Protective Activity of Aβ on Cell Cultures (PC12 and THP-1 after Differentiation) Preincubated with

Benita Wiatrak1,2, Katarzyna Balon3

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, Mikulicza-Radeckiego 2, 50-345, Wrocław, Poland. benita.wiatrak@umed.wroc.pl.

Molecular Neurobiology
|November 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and amyloid-beta (Aβ) can interact. Low concentrations of Aβ showed protective effects on neuronal cells pretreated with LPS, reducing free radicals and DNA damage.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis involves amyloid-beta (Aβ), also found in healthy individuals.
  • Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggers inflammatory responses and microglial activation via Toll-like receptors (TLRs).
  • Bacterial molecules may aggregate with Aβ in senile plaques.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of physiological amyloid-beta (Aβ) concentrations on neuronal and microglial cells previously exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
  • To assess the impact of LPS and Aβ co-exposure on cell viability, oxidative stress, and DNA damage.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized PC12 (neuronal) and THP-1 (microglial) cell lines, differentiated appropriately.
  • Cells were incubated with varying concentrations of LPS (1-100 μM) for 24 hours, followed by incubation with Aβ25-35 (0.001 μM or 1.0 μM) for another 24 hours.
  • Evaluated cell viability, free oxygen radical levels, DNA strand breaks, and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells.

Main Results:

  • Amyloid-beta (Aβ) demonstrated a stimulatory effect on repair processes in both cell lines.
  • A reduction in free radicals and DNA damage was observed compared to control groups.
  • Amyloid-beta (Aβ) exhibited neurotrophic activity, promoting neurite growth in PC12 cells even after LPS pre-incubation.
  • Low concentrations of Aβ conferred a protective effect on LPS-treated PC12 cells.

Conclusions:

  • Physiological concentrations of amyloid-beta (Aβ) can exert protective and neurotrophic effects on neuronal cells, particularly when co-exposed with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
  • These findings suggest a complex interplay between microbial components and Aβ in neuronal health and disease, potentially influencing Alzheimer's disease progression.

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