Pharmacological Inhibition of Galectin-3 Ameliorates Diabetes-Associated Cognitive Impairment, Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in vivo and in vitro.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In diabetes, cognitive impairment is linked with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. As the only chimeric member of the galectin family, galectin-3 (Gal3) induces neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in models of Alzheimer's disease (AD); however, its role in diabetes-associated cognitive impairment is not established.

METHODOLOGY:

Here, we investigated the effects of Gal3 inhibition on cognitive impairment and the possible underlying molecular events in diabetes. We investigated the effects of the Gal3 inhibitor modified citrus pectin (MCP; 100 mg/kg/day oral for 6 weeks) in vivo in high-fat diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Additionally, the effects of MCP on high glucose (HG)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells were investigated in vitro.

RESULTS:

We found that MCP attenuated memory impairment in diabetic rats in the Morris water maze test and reduced insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. In HG-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells, MCP increased cell viability and decreased oxidative stress and the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION:

The results of this study indicate that the inhibition of Gal3 by MCP ameliorates diabetes-associated cognitive impairment, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation, suggesting that Gal3 could be a potential new target for therapeutic intervention to prevent cognitive impairment in diabetes.

• Authors: Qingqing Yin, Jian Chen, Shizhan Ma, Chuanfang Dong, Yue Zhang, Xunyao Hou, Shangbin Li, Bin Liu
• Journal: Journal of inflammation research (J Inflamm Res) Vol. 13 Pg. 533-542 ( 2020) ISSN: 1178-7031 [Print] New Zealand
• PMID: 32982368 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2020 Yin et al.