Metabolism and Bioenergetics Targeting Therapies Study

Background of Metabolism and Bioenergetics Targeting Therapies Study

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent age-dependent neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques (Aβ) from amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing, aggregation of pathologic neurofibrillary tau tangles, loss and dysfunction of mitochondria, synapses, and neurons, oxidative stress in the brain, and neuroinflammation. Glycolysis and mitochondrial cellular respiration jointly contribute to metabolism as important biological processes for energy supply in the brain. Mitochondrial loss, dysfunction, and impairment, disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism have been demonstrated to occur in patients with AD. Investigating the interaction among energy balance, glucose metabolism, and insulin signaling in AD will assist researchers in better understanding the mechanism of action (MoA) of AD.

In addition, the dysfunction of gut microbial metabolism (dysbiosis) also affects AD process via gut-brain axis. Furthermore, the mitochondrial cascade hypothesis well explains the critical role of mitochondrial function in bioenergetic and metabolite homeostasis, electron transport chain (ETC) related redox signaling, and neuroinflammation. Since there is a lack of drugs directly effective in AD, it is urgent to develop therapeutic strategies targeting metabolism and bioenergetics to delay the onset and reduce the clinical symptoms of AD. Therefore, Creative Biolabs provides a series of in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo services for a comprehensive study of the metabolism and bioenergetics targeting therapies against AD.

Metabolism and Bioenergetics MoA in AD

The energy supply in the brain relies on the oxidation of glucose in mitochondria under aerobic conditions. Therefore, glucose metabolism plays an essential role in AD pathogenesis. The metabolites and secretions such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the gut microbiome have significant impacts on the brain by crossing the intestinal epithelial barrier and blood-brain barrier via the gut-brain axis. On the other hand, mitochondrial loss, and dysfunction lead to oxidative stress, which triggers neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, DNA, protein, and lipid damage, as well as exacerbate the accumulation of pathologic Aβ and tau. Compounds targeting metabolism (such as targeting insulin resistance, insulin signaling, hyperglycemia, and gut microbiota) and bioenergetics (such as targeting mitochondrial ETC proteins and mitochondrial quality control) have been demonstrated a significant decrease of the AD hallmarks, such as Aβ levels, tau phosphorylation, neuroinflammation, etc.

Fig.1 Proposed scenario of current strategies targeting different traits of dysfunctional mitochondria in AD, including mitochondrial bioenergetics and mitochondrial homeostasis. (Lanzillotta, 2019)

What Can We Do for You?

Creative Biolabs established reliable cell and animal models and platforms for metabolism and bioenergetics targeting therapies study. Our high-throughput imaging and electrophysiology tools guarantee our clients accurate data for the research and preclinical drug development requirements. We provide relevant assays that allow researchers to visualize the AD progression, mitochondria, neuroinflammation, etc., to find out the MoAs associated with metabolism and bioenergetics as well as screen for the compounds of interest. If you have the intention to study the metabolism and bioenergetics targeting therapies related to AD, please don't hesitate to contact us. Our professional team will help to design your customized solutions.

Reference

1. Lanzillotta, C.; et al. Targeting mitochondria in Alzheimer disease: rationale and perspectives. CNS drugs. 2019, 33(10): 957-969.