Apolipoprotein E4 and Alzheimer's disease causality under adverse environments and potential intervention by senolytic nutrients.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) has a pivotal role in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathophysiology. APOE4 has been recognized as a risk factor for developing late-onset AD. Recently, APOE4 homozygosity was regarded as a new familial genetic trait of AD. In this opinion paper, we summarized the potential pleiotropic antagonism role of APOE4 in children living under early life adversity and afflicted with enteric infection/malnutrition-related pathogenic exposome. APOE4 was found to be neuroprotective early in life despite its increasing risk for AD with aging. We call for awareness of the potential burden this can bring to the public health system when APOE4 carriers, raised under adverse environmental conditions in early life and then aging with unhealthy lifestyles in later life may be at special risk for cognitive impairments and acquired AD. We postulate the importance of anti-senescence therapies to protect these individuals and remediate aging-related chronic illnesses.

Pros and Cons of APOE4 Homozygosity and Effects on Neuroplasticity, Malnutrition, and Infections in Early Life Adversity, Alzheimer's Disease, and Alzheimer's Prevention.

Fortea et al.'s. (2024) recent data analysis elegantly calls attention to familial late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) with APOE4 homozygosity. The article by Grant (2024) reviews the factors associated with AD, particularly the APOE genotype and lifestyle, and the broad implications for prevention, both for individuals with the lifestyles associated with living in resource-rich countries and for those enduring environmental adversity in poverty settings, including high exposure to enteric pathogens and precarious access to healthcare. Grant discusses the issue of APOE genotype and its implications for the benefits of lifestyle modifications. This review highlights that bearing APOE4 could constitute an evolutionary benefit in coping with heavy enteric infections and malnutrition early in life in the critical formative first two years of brain development. However, the critical issue may be that this genotype could be a health concern under shifts in lifestyle and unhealthy diets during aging, leading to severe cognitive impairments and increased risk of AD. This commentary supports the discussions of Grant and the benefits of improving lifestyle for decreasing the risks for AD while providing further understanding and modelling of the early life benefits of APOE4 amidst adversity. This attention to the pathophysiology of AD should help further elucidate these critical, newly appreciated pathogenic pathways for developing approaches to the prevention and management in the context of the APOE genetic variations associated with AD.

ApoE Mimetic Peptides to Improve the Vicious Cycle of Malnutrition and Enteric Infections by Targeting the Intestinal and Blood-Brain Barriers.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) mimetic peptides are engineered fragments of the native apoE protein's LDL-receptor binding site that improve the outcomes following a brain injury and intestinal inflammation in a variety of models. The vicious cycle of enteric infections and malnutrition is closely related to environmental-driven enteric dysfunction early in life, and such chronic inflammatory conditions may blunt the developmental trajectories of children with worrisome and often irreversible physical and cognitive faltering. This window of time for microbiota maturation and brain plasticity is key to protecting cognitive domains, brain health, and achieving optimal/full developmental potential. This review summarizes the potential role of promising apoE mimetic peptides to improve the function of the gut-brain axis, including targeting the blood-brain barrier in children afflicted with malnutrition and enteric infections.

Synergic effect of OP449 and FTY720 on oral squamous cell carcinoma.

As SET protein is overexpressed and PP2A activity is reduced in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), this study aimed to assess the effects induced by OP449, a PP2A activator/SET inhibitor, on OSCC cells in vitro, and its potential either isolated or combined with FTY720, a PP2A activator/sphingosine kinase 1 antagonist, as antitumoral therapy in vivo. SET protein was analyzed in cells by immunoblotting and cancer stem cells by aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 assay (ALDH1). The cytotoxicity of OP449 was determined in five OSCC lineages by resazurin assay. Molecular actions of OP449 in SET targets were determined by immunoblotting. The coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) was used to characterize the synergism of OP449 and FTY720. The xenograft HN12 tumor model in nude mice was used to assess the antitumoral effect of OP449 and/or FTY720. HN12 (metastatic) cells showed higher SET and ALDH1 levels, and together with SCC9 cells were selected for molecular analysis. OP449 altered several SET functions/targets, such as histone H3 acetylation and NFkB. A synergism in cytotoxicity was observed when HN12 and SCC9 cells were pre-treated with 2 µM OP449 in combination with 15 µM FTY720 (CDI = 0.27 ± 0.088). Nude mice bearing xenograft HN12 tumors treated with OP449 and FTY720 showed reduced tumor mass. Moreover, NFkB was reduced in tumors after treatment. OP449 targets several SET functions, not only PP2A inhibition. Besides, OP449 plus FTY720 has a synergistic antitumoral effect on OSCC. Our results suggest new combined therapies and highlight SET and NFκB signaling as targets for OSCC therapy.