Acute treatment with the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone and ibuprofen reduces glial inflammation and Aβ1-42 levels in APPV717I transgenic mice

Neuritic plaques in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients are characterized by beta-amyloid deposits associated with a glia-mediated inflammatory response. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy reduces Alzheimer's disease risk and ameliorates microglial reactivity in Alzheimer's disease brains; however, the molecular mechanisms subserving this effect are not yet clear. Since several NSAIDs bind to and activate the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) which acts to inhibit the expression of proinflammatory genes, this receptor appears a good candidate to mediate the observed anti-inflammatory effects. Recent data in vitro suggested that NSAIDs negatively regulate microglial activation and immunostimulated amyloid precursor protein processing via PPAR gamma activation. We report that an acute 7 day oral treatment of 10-month-old APPV717I mice with the PPAR gamma agonist pioglitazone or the NSAID ibuprofen resulted in a reduction in the number of activated microglia and reactive astrocytes in the hippocampus and cortex. Drug treatment reduced the expression of the proinflammatory enzymes cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In parallel to the suppression of inflammatory markers, pioglitazone and ibuprofen treatment decreased beta-secretase-1 (BACE1) mRNA and protein levels. Importantly, we observed a significant reduction of the total area and staining intensity of A beta 1-42-positive amyloid deposits in the hippocampus and cortex. Additionally, animals treated with pioglitazone revealed a 27% reduction in the levels of soluble A beta 1-42 peptide. These findings demonstrate that anti-inflammatory drugs can act rapidly to inhibit inflammatory responses in the brain and negatively modulate amyloidogenesis.