Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation

IntroductionGiven the complex etiological basis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is reasonable to hypothesize that neuronal dysfunction and death result from the interplay of numerous factors, both genetic and environmental. Accumulating evidence implicates the immune system and inflammation as key c...

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Main Authors: Marta Matuszewska, Anna Wilkaniec, Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska, Magdalena Cieślik, Gabriela Olech-Kochańczyk, Ewelina Pałasz, Elżbieta Gawinek, Marcin Strawski, Grzegorz A. Czapski
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Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2025.1619583/full
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author Marta Matuszewska
Anna Wilkaniec
Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
Magdalena Cieślik
Gabriela Olech-Kochańczyk
Ewelina Pałasz
Elżbieta Gawinek
Marcin Strawski
Grzegorz A. Czapski
author_facet Marta Matuszewska
Anna Wilkaniec
Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
Magdalena Cieślik
Gabriela Olech-Kochańczyk
Ewelina Pałasz
Elżbieta Gawinek
Marcin Strawski
Grzegorz A. Czapski
author_sort Marta Matuszewska
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionGiven the complex etiological basis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is reasonable to hypothesize that neuronal dysfunction and death result from the interplay of numerous factors, both genetic and environmental. Accumulating evidence implicates the immune system and inflammation as key components of the pathomechanism of AD. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA) on AD-related pathological changes in middle-aged 12-month-old offspring mice. Additionally, we investigated whether the inhibition of bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, which are readers of the histone acetylation code, could influence these changes.MethodsIn our study, we administered a viral mimetic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), on gestation day 17 to induce MIA in wild-type C57BL/6J mice. The BET protein inhibitor, OTX-015 (Birabresib), was administered orally to 12-month-old male offspring for 14 days. Subsequently, behavioral, genetic, and immunochemical analyses were conducted.ResultsOur results demonstrated several MIA-evoked molecular alterations in the brains of middle-aged offspring. We observed an increase in App gene expression (qPCR) and amyloid-β (Aβ) levels (ELISA), while the levels and phosphorylation of Tau protein remained unchanged (WB). The mRNA levels of selected microglial markers were also elevated in the MIA group. Treatment with OTX-015 improved memory, as observed in the novel object recognition test, and reduced Aβ levels, but did not alter the expression of inflammatory genes or amyloidogenesis-related genes.DiscussionOur findings suggest that inhibition of BET proteins may effectively attenuate neuropathological alterations in the aged brain.
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issn 1662-5099
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spelling doaj-art-1220bcaa2dc24c99a6f214339094e9282025-08-20T03:12:26ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience1662-50992025-07-011810.3389/fnmol.2025.16195831619583Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activationMarta Matuszewska0Anna Wilkaniec1Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska2Magdalena Cieślik3Gabriela Olech-Kochańczyk4Ewelina Pałasz5Elżbieta Gawinek6Marcin Strawski7Grzegorz A. Czapski8Department of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandFaculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Cellular Signalling, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, PolandIntroductionGiven the complex etiological basis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), it is reasonable to hypothesize that neuronal dysfunction and death result from the interplay of numerous factors, both genetic and environmental. Accumulating evidence implicates the immune system and inflammation as key components of the pathomechanism of AD. In the present study, we analyzed the effect of maternal immune activation (MIA) on AD-related pathological changes in middle-aged 12-month-old offspring mice. Additionally, we investigated whether the inhibition of bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, which are readers of the histone acetylation code, could influence these changes.MethodsIn our study, we administered a viral mimetic, polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (PIC), on gestation day 17 to induce MIA in wild-type C57BL/6J mice. The BET protein inhibitor, OTX-015 (Birabresib), was administered orally to 12-month-old male offspring for 14 days. Subsequently, behavioral, genetic, and immunochemical analyses were conducted.ResultsOur results demonstrated several MIA-evoked molecular alterations in the brains of middle-aged offspring. We observed an increase in App gene expression (qPCR) and amyloid-β (Aβ) levels (ELISA), while the levels and phosphorylation of Tau protein remained unchanged (WB). The mRNA levels of selected microglial markers were also elevated in the MIA group. Treatment with OTX-015 improved memory, as observed in the novel object recognition test, and reduced Aβ levels, but did not alter the expression of inflammatory genes or amyloidogenesis-related genes.DiscussionOur findings suggest that inhibition of BET proteins may effectively attenuate neuropathological alterations in the aged brain.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2025.1619583/fullprenatal exposure delayed effectsinflammationbeta amyloidbromodomain containing proteinshippocampus
spellingShingle Marta Matuszewska
Anna Wilkaniec
Magdalena Gąssowska-Dobrowolska
Magdalena Cieślik
Gabriela Olech-Kochańczyk
Ewelina Pałasz
Elżbieta Gawinek
Marcin Strawski
Grzegorz A. Czapski
Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
prenatal exposure delayed effects
inflammation
beta amyloid
bromodomain containing proteins
hippocampus
title Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
title_full Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
title_fullStr Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
title_full_unstemmed Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
title_short Inhibition of BET proteins modulates amyloid-beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle-aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
title_sort inhibition of bet proteins modulates amyloid beta accumulation and cognitive performance in middle aged mice prenatally exposed to maternal immune activation
topic prenatal exposure delayed effects
inflammation
beta amyloid
bromodomain containing proteins
hippocampus
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2025.1619583/full
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