We have previously shown that myelin abnormalities and loss characterize the normal aging process of the brain and that an age-associated reduction in Klotho is conserved across species. Predominantly generated in brain and kidney, Klotho overexpression extends life span, whereas loss of Klotho accelerates the development of aging-like phenotypes. While the function of Klotho in brain is unknown, loss of Klotho expression leads to cognitive deficits. In the present study, we found significant effects of Klotho on oligodendrocyte functions including induced maturation of rat primary oligodendrocytic progenitor cells (OPCs) in vitro and myelination. Phosphoprotein Western analysis indicated Klotho's downstream effects involve Akt and ERK signal pathways. Klotho increased OPCs maturation, and inhibition of Akt or ERK function blocked this effect on OPCs. In vivo studies of Klotho knockout mice and their control littermates revealed that knockout mice have a significant reduction in major myelin protein and gene expression. By immunohistochemistry, the number of total and mature oligodendrocytes was significantly lower in Klotho knockout mice. Strikingly, at the ultrastructural level, Klotho knockout mice exhibited significantly impaired myelination of the optic nerve and corpus callosum. These mice also displayed severe abnormalities at the nodes of Ranvier. In order to decipher the mechanisms by which Klotho affects oligodendrocytes, we used luciferase pathway reporters to identify the transcription factors involved. Taken together, these studies provide novel evidence for Klotho as a key player in myelin biology, which may thus be a useful therapeutic target in efforts to protect brain myelin against age-dependent changes.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (SP1) receptors may be attractive targets for modulation of inflammatory processes in neurodegenerative diseases. Recently fingolimod, a functional S1P1 receptor antagonist, was introduced for treatment of multiple sclerosis. We postulated that anti-inflammatory mechanisms of fingolimod might also be protective in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, we treated a mouse model of AD, the 5xFAD model, with two doses of fingolimod (1 and 5 mg/kg/day) and measured the response of numerous markers of Aβ pathology as well as inflammatory markers and neurochemistry using biochemical, immunohistochemistry and high resolution magic angle spinning magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). In mice at 3 months of age, we found that fingolimod decreased plaque density as well as soluble plus insoluble Aβ measured by ELISA. Fingolimod also decreased GFAP staining and the number of activated microglia. Taurine has been demonstrated to play a role as an endogenous anti-inflammatory molecule. Taurine levels, measured using MRS, showed a very strong inverse correlation with GFAP levels and ELISA measurements of Aβ, but not with plaque density or activated microglia levels. MRS also showed an effect of fingolimod on glutamate levels. Fingolimod at 1 mg/kg/day provided better neuroprotection than 5 mg/kg/day. Together, these data suggest a potential therapeutic role for fingolimod in AD.
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