Blocking IL-1 signaling rescues cognition, attenuates tau pathology, and restores neuronal β-catenin pathway function in an Alzheimer's disease model

J Immunol. 2011 Dec 15;187(12):6539-49. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1100620. Epub 2011 Nov 16.

Abstract

Inflammation is a key pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), although its impact on disease progression and neurodegeneration remains an area of active investigation. Among numerous inflammatory cytokines associated with AD, IL-1β in particular has been implicated in playing a pathogenic role. In this study, we sought to investigate whether inhibition of IL-1β signaling provides disease-modifying benefits in an AD mouse model and, if so, by what molecular mechanisms. We report that chronic dosing of 3xTg-AD mice with an IL-1R blocking Ab significantly alters brain inflammatory responses, alleviates cognitive deficits, markedly attenuates tau pathology, and partly reduces certain fibrillar and oligomeric forms of amyloid-β. Alterations in inflammatory responses correspond to reduced NF-κB activity. Furthermore, inhibition of IL-1 signaling reduces the activity of several tau kinases in the brain, including cdk5/p25, GSK-3β, and p38-MAPK, and also reduces phosphorylated tau levels. We also detected a reduction in the astrocyte-derived cytokine, S100B, and in the extent of neuronal Wnt/β-catenin signaling in 3xTg-AD brains, and provided in vitro evidence that these changes may, in part, provide a mechanistic link between IL-1 signaling and GSK-3β activation. Taken together, our results suggest that the IL-1 signaling cascade may be involved in one of the key disease mechanisms for AD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / immunology*
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology*
  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cognition Disorders / genetics
  • Cognition Disorders / immunology*
  • Cognition Disorders / pathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-1beta / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-1beta / physiology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • NF-kappa B / antagonists & inhibitors
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nerve Growth Factors / physiology
  • Neurons / immunology*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • S100 Proteins / physiology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / physiology*
  • tau Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • tau Proteins / physiology

Substances

  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-1beta
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1
  • S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit
  • S100 Proteins
  • S100B protein, human
  • S100b protein, mouse
  • beta Catenin
  • tau Proteins