Affiliations: [a] Pediatric Research Institute, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| [b] National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| [c] Chongqing Key Laboratory of Translational Medical Research in Cognitive Development and Learning and Memory Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Zhifang Dong, Pediatric Research Institute, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, China. E-mail: zfdong@cqmu.edu.cn.
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: Background:Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tau pathology. Hyperphosphorylation modification promotes tau protein misfolding and aggregation into neurofibrillary tangles, leading to impairments of synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. However, very limited therapeutic strategies are available. Objective:In the present study, we wanted to investigate the potential effects of Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on tauopathies. Methods:We constructed adeno-associated virus carrying hTau cDNA (AAVhTau) to establish a mouse model of tauopathy through intrahippocampal microinjection. Using a combination of behavioral test, electrophysiological recording, and western blotting assay, we examined the neuroprotective effects of DHA on learning and memory deficits in mice with tauopathy. Results:DHA improved learning and memory and increased hippocampal CA1 long-term potentiation (LTP) in mice overexpressed human tau (hTau) in the hippocampus. More importantly, further study revealed that DHA could induce protein O-GlcNAcylation modification and reduce protein phosphorylation. O-GlcNAc transferase inhibitor alloxan could suppress DHA-induced protein O-GlcNAcylation, and subsequently prevent therapeutic effect of DHA on the deficits of learning and memory as well as synaptic plasticity in hTau mice. Conclusion:These results indicate that DHA may exert neuroprotective role in tauopathy through a crosstalk between O-GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation, suggesting a potential therapeutic for learning and memory deficits associated with tau pathology.
Keywords: Dihydroartemisinin, learning and memory, long-term potentiation, O-GlcNAcylation, phosphorylation, tau
