Combination of Insulin with a GLP1 Agonist Is Associated with Better Memory and Normal Expression of Insulin Receptor Pathway Genes in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Ari Robinson, Irit Lubitz, Dana Atrakchi-Baranes, Avital Licht-Murava, Pavel Katsel, Derek Leroith, Sigal Liraz-Zaltsman, Vahram Haroutunian, Michal Schnaider Beeri

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Disruption of brain insulin signaling may explain the higher Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk among type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. There is evidence from in vitro and human postmortem studies that combination of insulin with hypoglycemic medications is neuroprotective and associated with less amyloid aggregation. We examined the effect of 8-month intranasal administration of insulin, exenatide (a GLP-1 agonist), combination therapy (insulin + exenatide) or saline, in wild-type (WT) and an AD-like mouse model (Tg2576). Mice were assessed for learning, gene expression of key mediators and effectors of the insulin receptor signaling pathway (IRSP-IRS1, AKT1, CTNNB1, INSR, IRS2, GSK3B, IGF1R, AKT3), and brain Amyloid Beta (Aβ) levels. In Tg2576 mice, combination therapy reduced expression of IRSP genes which was accompanied by better learning. Cortical Aβ levels were decreased by 15–30% in all groups compared to saline but this difference did not reach statistical significance. WT mice groups, with or without treatment, did not differ in any comparison. Disentangling the mechanisms underlying the potential beneficial effects of combination therapy on the IR pathway and AD-like behavior is warranted.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)504-510
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Molecular Neuroscience
Volume67
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 15 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Exenatide
  • Insulin
  • T2D

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