Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (9): 1492-1498.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.191224

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Effects of triptolide on hippocampal microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Jian-ming Li1, 2, 3, 4, Yan Zhang3, Liang Tang3, Yong-heng Chen3, Qian Gao3, Mei-hua Bao3, Ju Xiang3, De-liang Lei2, *   

  1. 1 Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China 2 Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Central South University, School of Basic Medical Science, Changsha, Hunan Province, China 3 Neuroscience Research Center, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China 4 Department of Anatomy, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
  • Received:2016-08-16 Online:2016-09-30 Published:2016-09-30
  • Contact: De-liang Lei, Ph.D., delianglei@csu.edu.cn.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, No. 2016M590757; the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University of China, No. 20; the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 2015JJ6010; a grant from the Basic Research Program of Science and Technology Commission Foundation of Hunan Province of China, No. 2015JC3059; the Project Fund of the Department of Education in Hunan Province of China, No. 15A023, 13C1107; the Scientific Research Project Fund of Health Department of Hunan Province of China, No. B2011-071, B2016096; a grant from the Construction Program of the Key Discipline in Hunan Province of China.

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Abstract: The principal pathology of Alzheimer’s disease includes neuronal extracellular deposition of amyloid-beta peptides and formation of senile pl aques, which in turn induce neuroin?ammation in the brain. Triptolide, a natural extract from the vine-like herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has potent anti-in?ammatory and immunosuppressive effcacy. Therefore, we determined if triptolide can inhibit activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. We used 1 or 5 μg/kg/d triptolide to treat APP/PS1 double transgenic mice (aged 4–4.5 months) for 45 days. Unbiased stereology analysis found that triptolide dose-dependently reduced the total number of microglial cells, and transformed microglial cells into the resting state. Further, triptolide (5 μg/kg/d) also reduced the total number of hippocampal astrocytes. Our in vivo test results indicate that triptolide suppresses activation and proliferation of microglial cells and astrocytes in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice with Alzheimer’s disease.

Key words: nerve regeneration, neurodegenerative disease, traditional Chinese medicine, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, triptolide, Alzheimer’s disease, amyloid plaques, amyloid-β, amyloid precursor protein, inflammation, microglia, astrocytes, neural regeneration