Title:No Significant Effect of 7,8-Dihydroxyflavone on APP Processing and Alzheimer-Associated Phenotypes
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Author(s): Weitao Zhou, Xiaoyong Li, Daochao Huang, Weihui Zhou, Tingyu Li and Weihong Song
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Aβ, Alzheimer’s disease, 7, 8-dihydroxyflavone, memory deficits.
Abstract: It is reported that 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), a TrkB agonist, has beneficial effects on neuronal excitotoxicity,
stroke, and Parkinson disease in animal models by enhancing axon regeneration, muscle reinnervation and neuromuscular
transmission. The effect of DHF on AD neuropathology remains not well defined. In this study we examined
whether DHF affects APP processing and cognitive functions in vitro and in vivo. We found that DHF had no significant
effect on amyloid β precursor protein (APP), BACE1 and amyloid β protein (Aβ). DHF had little effect on APP processing
in cell cultures. DHF treatment did not reduce the deposition of Aβ to form neuritic plaques in the brain of AD model
mice APP23/PS45. Furthermore, DHF did not alleviate learning and memory impairments in the AD model mice. Our
study suggest that further extensive and careful studies are warranted for considering DHF as a new therapeutic agent for
reducing amyloid pathology and alleviating cognitive deficits for AD treatment.