Semaglutide-mediated protection against Aβ correlated with enhancement of autophagy and inhibition of apotosis

J Clin Neurosci. 2020 Nov:81:234-239. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.09.054. Epub 2020 Oct 14.

Abstract

Background: Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue with an extended half-life of approximately 1 week has being come into clinic trial to treat parkingson's disease but little is known about its effect to prevent against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The goal of the present study was to explore the potential mechanisms of semaglutide to protect against AD.

Methods: We treated SH-SY5Y cell line with Aβ25-35 as an AD model. Further, SH-SY5Y cells damaged by Aβ25-35 were treated by semaglutide. Autophagy-related proteins and apoptosis-related proteins were measured to explore molecular mechanisms for semaglutide to protect against Aβ25-35.

Results: Semaglutide enhanced autophagy by increasing the expression of LC3II, Atg7, Beclin-1 and P62 which were inhibited by Aβ25-35. Further we showed that semaglutide inhibited apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of Bax induced by Aβ25-35 and increasing the expression of Bcl2 inhibited by Aβ25-35.

Conclusion: Our results provide a clue for the hypothesis that autophagy enhancement and apoptosis inhibition may be involved in the effect of semaglutide to protect against Aβ 25-35.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Apoptosis; Autophagy; Aβ; SH-SY5Y cell line; Semaglutide.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism*
  • Alzheimer Disease / pathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / toxicity*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Autophagy / drug effects*
  • Autophagy / physiology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology
  • Peptide Fragments / toxicity*

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • amyloid beta-protein (25-35)
  • semaglutide
  • Glucagon-Like Peptides