Tea polyphenols protect learning and memory in sleep-deprived mice by promoting AMPA receptor internalization

Chronic sleep loss caused lots of health problems, also including cognition impairment. Tea is one of the most popular drinks when people stay up late. Nevertheless, the effects of tea on sleep deprivation-induced cognition impairment are still unclear. In the present study, we found 24-h sleep deprivation (S-DEP) increased membrane α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxa-zolep-propionate (AMPA) receptor level through a tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-dependent pathway in hippocampi. Blocking elevated TNFα level can protect S-DEP mice from impaired learning ability according to behavioral test. Tea polyphenols, major active compounds in green tea, suppressed TNFα production through downregulating TNFα converting enzyme (TACE) level. Meanwhile, tea polyphenols treatment could ameliorate recognition impairment and anxiety-like behaviors in S-DEP mice. The aforementioned results demonstrate cognition protective effects of tea polyphenols in S-DEP mice model, which provide a theoretical basis for the treatments of S-DEP-induced cognition impairment by targeting the TACE/TNFα/AMPA pathway.