Angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker losartan prevents and rescues cerebrovascular, neuropathological and cognitive deficits in an Alzheimer’s disease model


BIBLIOGRAPHIC THERAPEUTIC AGENT ANIMAL MODEL EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN OUTCOMES

Bibliographic

Year of Publication:
2014
Contact PI Name:
Edith Hamel
Contact PI Affiliation:
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Co-Authors:
Brice Ongali, Nektaria Nicolakakis, Xin-Kang Tong, Tahar Aboulkassim, Panayiota Papadopoulos, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Clotilde Lecrux, Hans Imboden
Primary Reference (PubMED ID):
Funding Source:
Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
la Fondation des Maladies du Coeur du Québec
Study Goal and Principal Findings:

Angiotensin II (AngII) receptor blockers that bind selectively AngII type 1 (AT1) receptors may protect from Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We studied the ability of the AT1 receptor antagonist losartan to cure or prevent AD hallmarks in aged (~18 months at endpoint, 3 months treatment) or adult (~12 months at endpoint, 10 months treatment) human amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice. We tested learning and memory with the Morris water maze, and evaluated neurometabolic and neurovascular coupling using [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-PET and laser Doppler flowmetry responses to whisker stimulation. Cerebrovascular reactivity was assessed with on-line videomicroscopy. We measured protein levels of oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutases SOD1, SOD2 and NADPH oxidase subunit p67phox), and quantified soluble and deposited amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), AngII receptors AT1 and AT2, angiotensin IV receptor AT4, and cortical cholinergic innervation. In aged APP mice, losartan did not improve learning but it consolidated memory acquisition and recall, and rescued neurovascular and neurometabolic coupling and cerebrovascular dilatory capacity. Losartan normalized cerebrovascular p67phox and SOD2 protein levels and up-regulated those of SOD1. Losartan attenuated astrogliosis, normalized AT1 and AT4 receptor levels, but failed to rescue the cholinergic deficit and the Aβ pathology. Given preventively, losartan protected cognitive function, cerebrovascular reactivity, and AT4 receptor levels. Like in aged APP mice, these benefits occurred without a decrease in soluble Aβ species or plaque load. We conclude that losartan exerts potent preventive and restorative effects on AD hallmarks, possibly by mitigating AT1-initiated oxidative stress and normalizing memory-related AT4 receptors.

Therapeutic Agent

Therapeutic Information:
Therapy Type:
Small Molecule
Therapeutic Agent:
Losartan
Therapeutic Target:
Angiotensin II Receptor Type 1

Animal Model

Model Information:
Species:
Mouse
Model Type:
APP
Strain/Genetic Background:
C57BL/6

Experimental Design

Is the following information reported in the study?:
Power/Sample Size Calculation
Randomized into Groups
Blinded for Treatment
Blinded for Outcome Measures
Pharmacokinetic Measures
Pharmacodynamic Measures
Toxicology Measures
ADME Measures
Biomarkers
Dose
Formulation
Route of Delivery
Duration of Treatment
Frequency of Administration
Age of Animal at the Beginning of Treatment
Age of Animal at the End of Treatment
Sex as a Biological Variable
Study Balanced for Sex as a Biological Variable
Number of Premature Deaths
Number of Excluded Animals
Statistical Plan
Genetic Background
Inclusion/Exclusion Criteria Included
Conflict of Interest

Outcomes

Outcome Measured
Outcome Parameters
Behavioral
Morris Water Maze
Motor Function
Path Length
Swimming Speed
Histopathology
Activated Astrocytes
beta Amyloid Deposits
beta Amyloid Load
Dense-core/Compact Plaques
Diffuse Plaques
Biochemical
Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
Brain-beta Amyloid Monomers
Brain-beta Amyloid Oligomers
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE)
Insulin-Regulated Aminopeptidase (IRAP)
Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor
Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor
NADPH Oxidase Cytosolic Protein p67phox
Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)
Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2)
Immunochemistry
Brain-beta Amyloid Deposits
Choline Acetyltransferase (ChAT)
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP)
Imaging
Laser Doppler Flowmetry
[18F]FDG-PET
Biomarker
Cerebral Blood Flow (CBF)
Cerebral Metabolic Rates of Glucose Uptake (CMRglc)
Toxicology
Body Weight
Physiology
Blood Pressure
Heart Rate
Respiration Rate
Cerebrovascular Reactivity

Source URL: http://alzped.nia.nih.gov/angiotensin-ii-type-1-receptor