GSK-3β as a target for apigenin-induced neuroprotection against Aβ 25-35 in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a critical molecule in Alzheimer's disease (AD) that modulates two histopathological hallmarks of AD: Amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of aberrant hyper-phosphorylation of tau protein. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of flavone apigenin through inhibition of GSK-3 and the involvement of this kinase in the inhibition of BACE1 expression and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein in an AD rat model. 15 nM of aggregated amyloid-beta 25-35 was microinjected into the left lateral ventricle of an AD rat. Apigenin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally 45 min before the Aβ injection and continued daily for three weeks. Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis showed that apigenin significantly reduced the hyperphosphorylation of tau levels in the hippocampus. Real-time PCR analysis revealed significant inhibition of the mRNA level of β secretase (BACE1) and GSK-3β, but Apigenin had no effect on the level of GSK-3α. The results demonstrate that apigenin has a protective effect against amyloid-beta 25-35 by decreasing the expression of GSK-3β with the consequence of lowering the hyperphosphorylation of tau protein and suppressing BACE1 expression.

Keywords: Alzheimer’ disease; Amyloid beta 25–35; Apigenin; Tau hyperphosphorylation; beta secretase.