Monoacylglycerol lipase contributes to pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease
Author(s)
Chen, Rongqing; Zhang, Jian; Wu, Yan; Wang, Dongqing; Feng, Guoping; Tang, Ya-Ping; Chen, Chu; ... Show more Show less
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Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia among older people. There are no effective medications currently available to prevent and treat AD and halt disease progression. Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is the primary enzyme metabolizing the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the brain. We show here that inactivation of MAGL robustly suppressed production and accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) associated with reduced expression of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) in a mouse model of AD. MAGL inhibition also prevented neuroinflammation, decreased neurodegeneration, maintained integrity of hippocampal synaptic structure and function, and improved long-term synaptic plasticity, spatial learning and memory in AD animals. While the molecular mechanisms underlying MAGL inhibition-produced beneficial effects remain to be determined, our results suggest that MAGL,which regulates endocannabinoid and prostaglandin signaling, contributes to pathogenesis and neuropathology of AD and thus is a promising therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of AD.
Date issued
2012-07Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences; McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MITJournal
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Publisher
Elsevier
Citation
Chen, Rongqing, et al. “Monoacylglycerol Lipase Contributes to Pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease.” Alzheimer’s & Dementia 8, 4 (July 2012): P703 © 2012 Elsevier
Version: Author's final manuscript
ISSN
1552-5260