Verapamil Inhibits Ser202/Thr205 Phosphorylation of Tau by Blocking TXNIP/ROS/p38 MAPK Pathway

Oxidative stress is a hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) and promotes tau phosphorylation. Since Thioredoxin Interacting protein (TXNIP), the inhibitor of the anti-oxidant system of Thioredoxin, is up regulated in the hippocampus of AD patients, we investigated whether TXNIP plays a role in promoting tau phosphorylation and whether Verapamil, an inhibitor of TXNIP expression, prevents TXNIP downstream effects.

We analyzed TXNIP expression and tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus of the 5xFAD mice in the absence and presence of a pharmacological treatment with Verapamil. Using SH-SY5Y cells, we verified the causative role of TXNIP in promoting tau phosphorylation at Ser202/Thr205, by inducing TXNIP silencing.

The amyloid beta peptide (Aβ_1-42) leads to TXNIP over-expression in SH-SY5Y cells, which in turns induces oxidative stress and the activation of p38 MAPK, promoting tau phosphorylation at Ser202/Thr205. Silencing of TXNIP abolishes Aβ_1-42-induced tau phosphorylation, p38 MAPK phosphorylation and subsequent tau phosphorylation. Verapamil prevents TXNIP expression as well as p38 MAPK and tau phosphorylation at Ser202/Thr205 in the hippocampus of the 5xFAD mice.

Our study unveil a novel pathway involved in AD progression that is inhibited by Verapamil, shedding new light on the understanding of the therapeutic potential of Verapamil in AD.