Neurodegenerative processes accelerated by protein malnutrition and decelerated by essential amino acids in a tauopathy mouse model.

ABSTRACT: Protein malnutrition is epidemiologically suggested as a potential risk factor for senile dementia, although molecular mechanisms linking dietary proteins and amino acids to neurodegeneration remain unknown. Here, we show that a low-protein diet resulted in down-regulated expression of synaptic components and a modest acceleration of brain atrophy in mice modeling neurodegenerative tauopathies. Notably, these abnormal phenotypes were robustly rescued by the administration of seven selected essential amino acids. The up-regulation of inflammation-associated gene expression and progressive brain atrophy in the tauopathy model were profoundly suppressed by treatment with these essential amino acids without modifications of tau depositions. Moreover, the levels of kynurenine, an initiator of a

SUBMITTER: Sato H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8535828 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature