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Published on: January 28, 2014
Biomarkers.
Carolina Aparecida de Faria Almeida1, Larissa Estessi de Souza1, Chiara Maria Righini1
1University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Chronic lithium treatment may delay Alzheimer's Disease development in Down syndrome (DS) models. Positron emission tomography (PET) revealed lithium's anti-neuroinflammatory effects in trisomic mice, suggesting therapeutic potential.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is common in Down syndrome (DS) due to trisomy 21.
- Increased life expectancy in DS necessitates AD intervention strategies.
- Lithium carbonate (Li) shows neuroprotective effects in pre-clinical models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate chronic Li treatment effects in a DS mouse model.
- To assess Li's impact on neuroinflammation and brain metabolism using PET.
Main Methods:
- Ts65Dn mice (trisomic, Ts) and euploid controls (Eup) received Li or no treatment (Ct).
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET) with [11C]PK11195 and [18F]FDG was used.
- Measurements were taken at 2, 5, and 14 months of age.
Main Results:
- Trisomic mice showed increased neuroinflammation ([11C]PK11195 uptake) and altered brain metabolism ([18F]FDG uptake) at 14 months.
- Chronic Li treatment prevented these increases in trisomic mice.
- Li treatment also reduced [18F]FDG uptake in trisomic mice from 5 to 14 months.
Conclusions:
- Trisomic animals exhibit neuroinflammation at 14 months.
- Chronic lithium treatment demonstrates anti-neuroinflammatory effects in this DS model.
- Further research is needed to fully understand lithium's therapeutic mechanisms.
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