GSK-3β inhibitor amplifies autophagy-lysosomal pathways by regulating TFEB in Parkinson's disease models

Parkinson's disease (PD), a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of the substantia nigra and a marked increase in Lewy bodies in the brain, primarily manifests as motor dysfunction. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3β) is known to play a critical role in various pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the impact of GSK-3β inhibitors on PD progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the effects have not been fully elucidated. Using in vitro and mouse models of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine (MPP⁺)-or methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD, we found that inhibition of GSK-3β activity alleviated mitochondrial damage, cell apoptosis, and neuronal cell loss by promoting the nuclear translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB), thereby amplifying the autophagy-lysosomal pathway (ALP). Importantly, siRNA silencing of the TFEB gene impaired the GSK-3β inhibitor-mediated activation of the ALP pathway, thus negating the metabolic support required for neuronal functional improvement. Short-term treatment with the GSK-3β inhibitor significantly ameliorated motor dysfunction and improved motor coordination in model mice with MPTP-induced PD. GSK-3β inhibition increased the ALP and TFEB activities in the mice, thereby reducing α-synuclein aggregation and neuronal damage. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that inhibition of GSK-3β activity can delay the pathological processes of PD via promotion of the TFEB–ALP pathway, potentially providing a novel therapeutic target for this neurodegenerative disorder.