Aβ initiates brain hypometabolism, network dysfunction and behavioral abnormalities via NOX2-induced oxidative stress in mice

A predominant trigger and driver of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the synergy of brain oxidative stress and glucose hypometabolism starting at early preclinical stages. Oxidative stress damages macromolecules, while glucose hypometabolism impairs cellular energy supply and antioxidant defense. However, the exact cause of AD-associated glucose hypometabolism and its network consequences have remained unknown. Here we report NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) activation as the main initiating mechanism behind Aβ1-42-related glucose hypometabolism and network dysfunction. We utilize a combination of electrophysiology with real-time recordings of metabolic transients both ex- and in-vivo to show that Aβ1-42 induces oxidative stress and acutely reduces cellular glucose consumption followed by long-lasting network hyperactivity and abnormalities in the animal behavioral profile. Critically, all of these pathological changes were prevented by the novel bioavailable NOX2 antagonist GSK2795039. Our data provide direct experimental evidence for causes and consequences of AD-related brain glucose hypometabolism, and suggest that targeting NOX2-mediated oxidative stress is a promising approach to both the prevention and treatment of AD.

A simple model of aerobic metabolism: applications to work transitions in muscle

Adding kinetics to the model of the phosphate energy system [Connett. Am. J. Physiol. 254 (Regulatory Integrative Comp. Physiol. 23): R949-R959, 1988], we provide a framework for analyzing metabolic transients in muscle tissue. We modify the formalism of the earlier model and introduce a buffering factor, which measures buffering of adenine nucleotides by phosphocreatine. The time course of the phosphate energy state can be calculated given the following: 1) adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) rate, 2) pH, and 3) a mitochondrial driving function, i.e., ATP production in terms of the phosphate energy state. We use mitochondrial driving functions derived from steady-state measurements to predict the time courses for rest-work transitions. Predictions for transitions in the rat gastrocnemius muscle agree with published values. The model is used to test different existing hypotheses of oxygen consumption (VO2) regulation. Each hypothesis generates a specific mitochondrial driving function, which in turn generates a specific time course of phosphate energy state during transitions. A mitochondrial driving function based on enzyme kinetics with ADP as a substrate leads to time courses not matching the data. Mitochondrial driving functions that are linear with phosphocreatine, Pi, phosphorylation potential, or the pool of high-energy phosphate bonds (phosphate potential energy) gave good agreement with the data.