Effects of TYROBP Deficiency on Neuroinflammation of a Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model Carrying a PSEN1 p.G378E Mutation

Objective

To study the effects of TYRO protein kinase-binding protein (TYROBP) deficiency on learning behavior, glia activation and pro-inflammatory cycokines, andTau phosphorylation of a new Alzheimer’s disease (AD) mouse model carrying a PSEN1 p.G378E mutation.

Methods

A new AD mouse model carrying PSEN1 p.G378E mutation was built based on our previously found AD family which might be ascribed to the PSEN1 mutation, and then crossed with TYROBP deficient mice to produce the heterozygous hybrid mice (PSEN1^G378E/WT; Tyrobp^+/–) and the homozygous hybrid mice (PSEN1^G378E/G378E; Tyrobp^–/–). Water maze test was used to detect spatial learning and memory ability of mice. After the mice were sacrificed, the hippocampus was excised for further analysis. Immunofluorescence was used to identify the cell that expresses TYROBP and the number of microglia and astrocyte. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of Tau and phosphorylatedTau (p-Tau), and ELISA to measure the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Results

Our results showed that TYROBP specifically expressed in the microglia of mouse hippocampus. Absence of TYROBP in PSEN1^G378E mutation mouse model prevented the deterioration of learning behavior, decreased the numbers of microglia and astrocytes, and the levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in the hippocampus (all P < 0.05). The ratios of AT8/Tau5, PHF1/Tau5, pT181/Tau5, pT231/ Tau5 and p-ERK/ERK were all higher in homozygous hybrid mice (PSEN1^G378E/G378E; Tyrobp^–/– mice) compared with PSEN1^G378E/G378E mice (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

TYROBP deficiency might play a protective role in the modulation of neuroinflammation of AD. However, the relationship between neuroinflammation processes involving microglia and astrocyte activation, and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and p-Tau pathology needs further study.