Sudhir Kshirsagar , Rainier Vladlen Alvir , Jangampalli Adi Pradeepkiran , Arubala P. Reddy , P. Hemachandra Reddy
{"title":"Therapeutic potential of DDQ in enhancing mitochondrial health and cognitive function in Late-Onset Alzheimer’s disease","authors":"Sudhir Kshirsagar , Rainier Vladlen Alvir , Jangampalli Adi Pradeepkiran , Arubala P. Reddy , P. Hemachandra Reddy","doi":"10.1016/j.mito.2025.102036","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of DDQ, a small molecule in the humanized Abeta knockin (hAbKI) mice that represents late-onset AD. Our findings demonstrate that DDQ treatment significantly improves cognitive performance as assessed through behavioral tests, including the rotarod, open field, Y-maze, and Morris water maze, compared to untreated hAbKI mice. At the molecular level, DDQ promoted mitochondrial biogenesis, as evidenced by enhanced expression of key proteins like PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM. Additionally, DDQ treatment facilitated mitophagy, as indicated by elevated levels of PINK1 and Parkin, and reduced neuroinflammation, reflected by decreased Iba1 and GFAP levels. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed a marked improvement in mitochondrial morphology, with increased mitochondrial length and reduced mitochondrial numbers in DDQ-treated mice. Furthermore, DDQ treatment led to an increase in mitophagic vacuoles, suggesting that it effectively removes dysfunctional mitochondria. Taken together, for the first time, our study results support the potential of DDQ as a promising neuroprotective agent for late-onset AD, addressing mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Our study focused on developing small molecules that modulate mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and neuroinflammatory pathways for aging, AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":18606,"journal":{"name":"Mitochondrion","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 102036"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Mitochondrion","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1567724925000339","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CELL BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of DDQ, a small molecule in the humanized Abeta knockin (hAbKI) mice that represents late-onset AD. Our findings demonstrate that DDQ treatment significantly improves cognitive performance as assessed through behavioral tests, including the rotarod, open field, Y-maze, and Morris water maze, compared to untreated hAbKI mice. At the molecular level, DDQ promoted mitochondrial biogenesis, as evidenced by enhanced expression of key proteins like PGC1α, NRF1, and TFAM. Additionally, DDQ treatment facilitated mitophagy, as indicated by elevated levels of PINK1 and Parkin, and reduced neuroinflammation, reflected by decreased Iba1 and GFAP levels. Transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed a marked improvement in mitochondrial morphology, with increased mitochondrial length and reduced mitochondrial numbers in DDQ-treated mice. Furthermore, DDQ treatment led to an increase in mitophagic vacuoles, suggesting that it effectively removes dysfunctional mitochondria. Taken together, for the first time, our study results support the potential of DDQ as a promising neuroprotective agent for late-onset AD, addressing mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cognitive decline. Our study focused on developing small molecules that modulate mitophagy, mitochondrial dynamics and neuroinflammatory pathways for aging, AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.
期刊介绍:
Mitochondrion is a definitive, high profile, peer-reviewed international research journal. The scope of Mitochondrion is broad, reporting on basic science of mitochondria from all organisms and from basic research to pathology and clinical aspects of mitochondrial diseases. The journal welcomes original contributions from investigators working in diverse sub-disciplines such as evolution, biophysics, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, genetics, pharmacology, toxicology, forensic science, programmed cell death, aging, cancer and clinical features of mitochondrial diseases.