RESUMO
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of LW- AFC, a new formula of the main active components extracted from Liuwei Dihuang decoction, on treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD) in mouse models. METHODS After treatment LW- AFC, mice were cognitively evaluated in behavioral experiments. Neuron loss, amyloid-β(Αβ) deposition, and Αβ level were analyzed using Nissl staining, immunofluorescence, and an AlphaLISA assay, respectively. Multiplex bead analysis, a radioimmunoassay, immunochemiluminometry, and an ELISA were used to measure cytokine and hormone levels. Lymphocyte subsets were detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS LW-AFC ameliorated the cognitive impairment observed in APP/PS1 mice, including the impairment of object recognition memory, spatial learning and memory, and active and passive avoidance. In addition, LW-AFC alleviated the neuron loss in the hippocampus, suppressed Αβ deposition in the brain, and reduced the concentration of Aβ1- 42 in the hippocampus and plasma of APP/PS1 mice. LW-AFC treatment also significantly decreased the secretion of corticotropin-releasing hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone in the hypothalamus, and adrenocorticotropic hormone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle- stimulating hormone in the pituitary. Moreover, LW-AFC increased CD8+CD28+T cells, and reduced CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells in the spleen lymphocytes, down- regulated interleukin(IL)- 1β, IL- 2, IL- 6, IL- 23, granulocyte- macrophage colony stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α and -β, and up-regulated IL-4 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor in the plasma of APP/PS1 mice. CONCLUSION LW-AFC ameliorated the behavioral and pathological deterioration of APP/PS1 transgenic micevia the restoration of the NIM network to a greater extent than either memantineor donepezil, which supports the use of LW-AFC as a potential agent for AD therapy.