Increasing brain glucose uptake by Gypenoside <scp>LXXV</scp> ameliorates cognitive deficits in a mouse model of diabetic Alzheimer's disease
Xiangbao Meng, Yuan Zhang, Zongyang Li, Guoxu Ma, Xiejun Zhang, Di Zhang, Weiwei Cao, Sicen Wang, Qian Cai, Ping Cui, Guodong Huang
Abstract
Abstract We have previously reported that Gypenoside LXXV (GP‐75), a novel natural PPARγ agonist isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum , ameliorated cognitive deficits in db/db mice. In this study, we further investigated the beneficial effects on cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice and a mouse model of diabetic AD (APP/PS1xdb/db mice). Interestingly, intragastric administration of GP‐75 (40 mg/kg/day) for 3 months significantly attenuated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice. GP‐75 treatment markedly reduced the levels of glucose, HbA1c and insulin in serum and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Notably, GP‐75 treatment decreased the β‐amyloid (Aβ) burden, as measured by 11 C‐PIB PET imaging. Importantly, GP‐75 treatment increased brain glucose uptake as measured by 18 F‐FDG PET imaging. Moreover, GP‐75 treatment upregulated PPARγ and increased phosphorylation of Akt (Ser473) and GLUT4 expression levels but decreased phosphorylation of IRS‐1 (Ser616) in the hippocampi of both APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice. Furthermore, GP‐75‐induced increases in GLUT4 membrane translocation in primary hippocampal neurons from APP/PS1xdb/db mice was abolished by cotreatment with the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. In summary, GP‐75 ameliorated cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 and APP/PS1xdb/db mice by enhancing glucose uptake via activation of the PPARγ/Akt/GLUT4 signaling pathways.