Activation of 5-HT4 receptors inhibits secretion of beta-amyloid peptides and increases neuronal survival

Exp Neurol. 2007 Jan;203(1):274-8. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2006.07.021. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

Abstract

Activation of 5-HT4 receptors has been shown to improve memory processes in preclinical cognition models, suggesting potential utility of 5-HT4 agonists for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies have shown that 5-HT4 agonists also increase the secretion of the non-amyloidogenic soluble amyloid precursor protein-alpha (sAPPalpha). In the present study, we demonstrated that a selective 5-HT4 partial agonist, RS67333, inhibited the generation of beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) in primary cortical cultures of Tg2576 transgenic mice expressing human APP(K670N/M671L). Furthermore, treatments with RS67333 selectively increased the survival of transgenic neurons in a dose-dependent manner, which was inhibited by 5-HT4 antagonists. These and previous data collectively suggest that the 5-HT4 receptor may be an effective therapeutic target for AD, providing both symptomatic improvements and neuroprotection.

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Alzheimer Disease / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Amyloid beta-Peptides / metabolism
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / genetics
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / metabolism
  • Aniline Compounds / pharmacology
  • Aniline Compounds / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebral Cortex / drug effects*
  • Cerebral Cortex / metabolism
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiopathology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Degeneration / drug therapy
  • Nerve Degeneration / physiopathology
  • Nerve Degeneration / prevention & control
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Peptide Fragments / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Piperidines / therapeutic use
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4 / metabolism
  • Serotonin / metabolism
  • Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / pharmacology*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Synaptic Transmission / drug effects
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Amyloid beta-Peptides
  • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Piperidines
  • Serotonin 5-HT4 Receptor Agonists
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-40)
  • amyloid beta-protein (1-42)
  • Receptors, Serotonin, 5-HT4
  • RS 67333
  • Serotonin