# Quinovic Acid Impedes Cholesterol Dyshomeostasis, Oxidative Stress, and Neurodegeneration in an Amyloid-β-Induced Mouse Model

Authors: Kamran Saeed; Shahid Ali Shah; Rahat Ullah; Sayed Ibrar Alam; Jun Sung Park; Samreen Saleem; Myeung Hoon Jo; Min Woo Kim; Jong Ryeal Hahm; Myeong Ok Kim
Journal: Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity
 (2020)

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## Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder typified by several neuropathological features including amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Cholesterol retention and oxidative stress (OS) are the major contributors of elevated β- and γ-secretase activities, leading to excessive Aβ deposition, signifying the importance of altered cholesterol homeostasis and OS in the progression of Aβ-mediated neurodegeneration and cognitive deficit. However, the effect of Aβ on cholesterol metabolism is lesser-known. In this study, we evaluated the effect of quinovic acid (QA; 50 mg/kg body weight, i.p.) against the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Aβ (1-42)-induced cholesterol dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration in the cortex and hippocampal brain regions of wild-type male C57BL/6J mice. Our results indicated that Aβ (1-42)-treated mice have increased Aβ oligomer formation along with increased β-secretase expression. The enhanced amyloidogenic pathway in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice intensified brain cholesterol accumulation due to increased expressions of p53 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) enzyme. Importantly, we further confirmed the p53-mediated HMGCR axis activation by using pifithrin-α (PFT) in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, the augmented brain cholesterol levels were also associated with increased OS. However, the QA administration to Aβ (1-42)-injected mice significantly ameliorated the Aβ burden, p53 expression, and cholesterol accumulation by deterring the oxidative stress through upregulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. Moreover, the QA downregulated gliosis, neuroinflammatory mediators (p-NF-κB and IL-1β), and the expression of mitochondrial apoptotic markers (Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and cytochrome c). QA treatment also reversed the deregulated synaptic markers (PSD-95 and synaptophysin) and improved spatial learning and memory behaviors in the Aβ-treated mouse brains. These results suggest that Aβ (1-42) induces its acute detrimental effects on cognitive functions probably by increasing brain cholesterol levels through a possible activation of the p53/HMGCR axis. However, QA treatment reduces the cholesterol-induced oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, leading to the restoration of cognitive deficit after Aβ (1-42) i.c.v. injection in mice.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the major progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with brain atrophy and dementia and is typified by various neuropathological features including the presence of extracellular neuritic plaques of amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides and hyperphosphorylated tau in intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) [1, 2]. There is a strong correlation between altered Aβ metabolism and increased p53 expression levels [3–6]. p53 is a tumor-suppressor protein involved in cell cycle control or apoptosis, and its role in cell death and neurodegeneration has been extensively discussed [7, 8]. p53 has diverse biological functions and is known to modulate several pathways [9], including cholesterol metabolism [10, 11], and regulate the activity of important enzymes of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, including 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) to alter cholesterol metabolism [12]. The perturbation in cholesterol metabolism inside the body can be catastrophic to the brain and is manifested by progressive neuronal cell death [13].Although most studies illuminated how cholesterol homeostasis affects the production and amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing in promoting AD pathology, very little is known about the influence of Aβ on altering the cellular cholesterol metabolism [14, 15]. Michikawa et al. have previously revealed that oligomeric Aβ in cultured astrocytes and neurons releases cholesterol and phospholipids [16]. Similarly, Aβ can increase synthesis and alter the distribution of free cholesterol in neurons [17]. The oligomeric Aβ (1-40) may also lose its neuroprotective activity [18] and modulates the synthesis and cellular cholesterol homeostasis in the rat’s primary cultured neurons [19]. The extracellular cholesterol is also known to reside in aggregated Aβ in transgenic (with Swedish Alzheimer mutation APP751) mice and neuritic plaques of AD patients [20]. However, the effect of Aβ (1-42) oligomers on cholesterol dyshomeostasis and metabolism especially in vivo and its concomitant detrimental effects on neurodegeneration are less well defined and may offer novel insights into mechanisms based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis.Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases [21] and is considered to be an early event observed in AD disease progression [22, 23]. The cholesterol-mediated alterations deteriorate the critical antioxidant defense system by impairing mitochondrial GSH transport, reducing the cell susceptibility to different stimuli to reduce oxidative stress [24, 25]. The oxidized cholesterol products including oxysterols illustrate a fundamental role in AD progression by increasing oxidative stress linking hypercholesterolemia and altered cholesterol metabolism to neurodegenerative disease [14, 26]. The HMGCR (a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway) competitive inhibitor statin has been shown in multiple studies in reducing AD pathology [27]. However, some actions of statins are assumed to be associated with the pleiotropic effect on OS, neuroinflammation, and brain oxygenation in particular [28, 29], instead of lowering cholesterol [30–32]. Cholesterol retention is also one of the major reasons for elevated β- and γ-secretase activities, leading to excessive Aβ deposition [33] that can further induce free radicals [34], along with different oxidative stress markers [35], and leads to the abnormal intermediation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway [36–38].Quinovic acid is a triterpene isolated from different plants [39–41]. Quinovic acids and other triterpenes are an important constituent of the cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) extract which is a medicinal plant and is widely used as a strong antioxidant with potent DPPH scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity [42, 43]. Likewise, the quinovic acid glycosides from the Guettarda platypoda and Uncaria tomentosa plants were among the initial studies to show anti-inflammatory activity in rats [44]. Moreover, triterpenes possess potential activity against diabetes-induced β-cell damage that mostly is superseded by OS-mediated inflammation [45]. Previously, we have reported that quinovic acid and its glycoside derivatives have been shown to have strong inhibitory activity against dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) [41], which is an important enzyme involved in cleaving various neuropeptides and incretin hormones possessing anti-inflammatory activity [46]. Here, we have studied the proteotoxic effect of i.c.v. Aβ (1-42) oligomers on brain cholesterol upsurge associated with OS and its effect on neurodegeneration and behavioral deficits and its possible neuroprotection through antioxidant quinovic acid in reducing AD disease pathology in mice. Our results make evident that oligomeric Aβ (1-42) isoform has an acute effect on cholesterol dyshomeostasis and OS with interactive influence on neuronal loss and synaptic/memory dysfunction and that administering quinovic acid to the mice protects against Aβ-neurotoxicity; alleviates disease pathology by reducing cholesterol-mediated OS, glial activation, and neuroinflammation; and improves memory deficits in the (i.c.v.) β-amyloid mouse model.


## 2. Materials and Methods

### 2.1. Drug Preparation

Forin vivo intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration, Aβ (1-42) peptide was prepared as formerly mentioned [47]. Briefly, the human Aβ (1-42) peptide (purchased from Sigma Chemicals Co.) was prepared in a sterile saline solution at a stock concentration of 1 mg/ml followed by aggregation via incubation at 37°C and administered at 5 μl/mice. For in vitro studies, the oligomeric Aβ (1-42) (AβO) was prepared as reported previously [48]. Concisely, the Aβ (1-42) peptide was dissolved in 100% hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). The HFIP was then evaporated under vacuum and reconstituted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to produce 5 mM suspension. The 5 mM HFIP-treated Aβ (1-42) suspension was further diluted to 100 μM in F12 culture media (Gibco by Life Technologies, USA) lacking phenol red and incubated for 24 h at 5°C. The solution containing peptide was centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C, and the supernatant containing AβO was collected. For cell treatment, AβO was used at a final concentration of 5 μM. The quinovic acid (QA) was isolated as previously reported [41] and was dissolved in a saline solution for in vivo administration and in DMSO for in vitro analysis. Pifithrin-α (Axon Medchem) was dissolved in DMSO and used at a concentration of 10 μM for in vitro analysis.


### 2.2. Cell Culture, MTT Assay, and Treatment

Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (purchased from Korean Cell Line Bank) were grown in MEM+F12 (1 : 1) supplemented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin and 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were cultured in saturated humidified air containing 5% CO2 at 37°C. The experiments were commenced until cells grew up to 60-70% confluence.MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to evaluate the levels of cell viability and dose optimization as performed previously [49]. SH-SY5Y cells were grown in a 96-well assay plate (2×104 cells/well) in 100 ml/well of MEM+F12 (1 : 1) media augmented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin and 10% FBS. The cells were incubated in humidified air with 5% CO2 at 37°C, and the medium was changed at a regular interval. At 60-70% confluence media were changed, and the cells were either treated alone with different concentrations of quinovic acid (0, 5, 10, 30, 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115 μM) dissolved in DMSO or cotreated with AβO (5 μM) for dose optimization and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The final concentration of DMSO was kept less than 0.25% in each well. Control culture wells either contained maintenance media or were augmented with 0.2% DMSO (vehicle control). After incubation, 10 μl of MTT (5 mg/ml in PBS)/well was added and incubated for 4 h. The blue formazan formed was solubilized by adding 100 μl of DMSO after media were removed and incubated for another 10-15 min. The absorbance intensity was measured at 550-570 nm using a microplate reader ApoTox-Glo™ (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). The experiments were performed in triplicate.For western blot analysis, SH-SY5Y cells were seeded in a 100 mm Petri dish. After 70% confluence, the cells were treated with the following: (a) AβO (5 μM) alone, (b) pretreated 60 min with pifithrin-α (10 μM) before exposure to AβO, (c) AβO cotreated with quinovic acid (85 μM), (d) treated with PFT, or (e) quinovic acid alone for 24 h. AβO concentration of 5 μM was used in all culture experiment. Control cells were only incubated with the pure medium. After 24 h of incubation, cells were collected in PBS by scraping and centrifuged at 13,000×g for 10 min at 4°C. The supernatant was removed, and PRO-PREP (a protein extraction solution) was added according to the manufacturer’s approved guidelines (iNtRON Biotechnology) followed by sonication and centrifuged at 4°C at 13,000 rpm for 30 min, and supernatants were collected to obtain cell lysates. The protein concentration in lysates was quantified using the Bio-Rad assay solution.


### 2.3. Experimental Subjects

Male C57BL/6J wild-type mice were obtained from Samtako Bio Korea and were approximately 25-30 g and 8 weeks old at the start of experiments. The animals were randomly retained in groups of four in each cage and acclimatized for one week at room temperature in a fully controlled university animal facility (12 : 12 h light-dark cycle at23±2°C) with free access to water and chow. The animals were assigned to the following 3 different groups (n=12 mice/group): saline-treated control, Aβ+saline, and Aβ+QA. All experiments in the current study followed the guidelines and principles of the Animal Ethics Committee (IACUC) (Approval ID: 125) from the Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Sciences at Gyeongsang National University (GNU), South Korea.


### 2.4. Mouse Model and Drug Administration

For Aβ (1-42) i.c.v. administration, the mice were anesthetized with a Rompun : Zoletil ratio of 0.5 ml/100 g body weight and were intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injected with aggregated Aβ (1-42) or vehicle control (saline) stereotaxically using a Hamilton microsyringe inserted 1 mm median-to-lateral, -0.2 mm from anterior-to-posterior, and -2.4 mm ventral-to-dorsal to the bregma. The Aβ (1-42) (total 5 μl/mice) was injected at the degree of 1 μl/5 min/mouse. The needle was left in place to avoid leakage or backflow for at least 3 min. The experiments were performed at a controlled temperature (36±1°C) to prevent hypothermia.Soon after the recovery period (24 h), the mice received quinovic acid at 50 mg/kg dose concentration or saline (0.1% normal) solution, administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) on alternative days for 3 weeks. Schematic representation of experimental procedure and drug administration is indicated in Figure1.Figure 1
Schematic representation of experimental procedure and drug administration. The red arrow represents the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of amyloid-beta (1-42) (dose: 5μl/mice given at the rate of 1 μl/min) after 1 week of mouse acclimation. The green bar represents the quinovic acid treatment (dose: 50 mg/kg/body weight in a saline solution, i.p.) on each alternative day for 3 weeks. Behavior studies (Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze analysis) were performed in the last week. The blue arrow represents the day when mice were sacrificed for biochemical and morphological studies.


### 2.5. Animal Behavioral Analysis

The spatial learning and memory were examined (on days 14-20) after Aβ (1-42) i.c.v. injection using the Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze. The animal’s trials and routes were recorded using automated tracking system software (SMART, Panlab Harvard Apparatus, Bioscience Company, Holliston, USA).The Morris water maze (MWM) is a circular pool (100 cm in diameter, 40 cm in depth) filled with opaque (by adding white nontoxic ink) water at room temperature (25±1°C), with a transparent platform (10 cm in diameter, 14 cm in height) submerged 1 cm deep in one of the four arbitrary pool quadrants. The animals were initially acclimated to the pool for swimming a day before the start of the experiment for 60 sec with no platform. To find the escape latency (time to find the hidden platform), the mice were initially trained for five consecutive days with 3 trial sessions (120 sec/trial) per day to test the reference memory. The platform was placed in one of the quadrants with a change in position to other quadrants during each trial. The animals were placed in the center of one of the quadrants and were allowed to find the platform. Animals that surpassed the permitted time were guided manually and allowed for 10 s to stay on the platform before being removed. On day 6, a probe test was performed to analyze spatial memory retention among the animal groups. The platform was removed from the pool, and the mice were allowed for 60 sec cutoff time from one of the quadrants to find the platform location. The time spent in individual quadrants, with the total number of crossing, to locate the escape platform and track the path distance was recorded and analyzed.The Y-maze was used to assess the spontaneous alteration (exploratory behavior/preference to explore new maze arms) to test the animals’ cognitive and working memory. The experiments were performed in a white Y-shaped maze (arm coordinates: length 75 cm, breadth 15 cm, and 10 cm height) with 120° amid each arm. The animals were introduced to one of the maze arms and were allowed to explore freely for 8 min. The experiment was performed and recorded in 3 trial sessions per day with each time the mice were placed in a different arm, and 85% of animal bodily entries were recorded as a successful entry. The % spontaneous alterations were analyzed based on the equation as follows:100×successivetripletsetsentriesintothreedifferentarmsconsecutively/totalnumberofarmentries−2.


### 2.6. Tissue Collection and Sample Preparations

After behavioral assessments followed by last i.p. injection, the animals were anesthetized. For biochemical analysis, the brains were removed immediately, and the cortex and hippocampal regions were isolated on dry ice and stored at −80°C. For protein extraction, both the brain regions were homogenized in PRO-PREP (a protein extraction solution) followed by centrifugation at 4°C at 13,000 rpm for 30 min and supernatants were collected. For immunohistochemical and morphological analysis, the mice were transcardially perfused with 0.9% normal saline followed by reperfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA). Brains were removed and fixed by submerging in ice-cold PFA for 72 h at 4°C and then transferred to 20% sucrose till the brains sunk to the bottom of the tube. The brain tissue was frozen in O.C.T. (Tissue-Tek O.C.T. Compound Medium, Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., Torrance, CA, USA). The 14μm coronal plane tissue sections were obtained with CM 3050C cryostat (Leica, Germany) and thaw-mounted on a positively charged gelatin-coated slide.


### 2.7. Immunoblotting and Immunofluorescence

Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were performed as previously described in our lab research work [50, 51]. For immunoblot, β-actin expression was used as an internal control for all experiments. The immunofluorescence visualizations were performed using laser scanning confocal microscopy (FluoView FV1000 MPE). The data from both techniques were evaluated using computer-based ImageJ software and GraphPad Prism (ver. 7.0). Values are presented means±standarderrorsofthemeanSEM. The following antibodies were used in immunoblotting and immunofluorescence (Table 1).Table 1
List of antibodies used in immunoblot and confocal microscopy.
Primary antibodies
Source
Western blot
Immunohistochemistry
Mouse anti-β-amyloid antibody (B-4)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-BACE antibody (61-3E7)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-p53 antibody (DO-1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-p53 antibody
Cell Signaling
—
1 : 2000
Mouse anti-HMGCR antibody (C-1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
1 : 100
Rabbit anti-Keap1 antibody (H-190)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-Nrf2 antibody (A-10)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
1 : 100
Mouse anti-heme oxygenase 1 antibody (A-3)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-heme oxygenase 1 antibody (E9H3A)
Cell Signaling
—
1 : 1500
Mouse anti-p-JNK antibody (G-7)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-p-NF-κB p65 antibody (27.Ser 536)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-IL-1β antibody (E7-2-hIL1β)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-GFAP antibody (2E1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
1 : 100
Mouse anti-Iba-1 antibody (1022-5)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-Iba-1 antibody (PA5-27436)
Thermo Fisher Scientific
—
1 : 100
Mouse anti-Bax antibody (2D2)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-Bcl-2 antibody (100)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-caspase-3 antibody (E-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-cytochrome c (A-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
—
Mouse anti-PSD-95 antibody (6D677)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
—
Mouse anti-SYP antibody (H-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—


### 2.8. Nissl Staining

Nissl staining was performed to analyze brain tissue neural morphology and pathology. Briefly, the brain sections were washed twice in PBS (0.01 M) for 15 min and then incubated for 8-10 min in crystal 0.5% cresyl violet staining solution augmented with few drops of glacial acetic acid. The tissue was then washed with distilled water and differentiated in ethyl alcohol (70, 95, and 100%) for 15 min. After dehydration, the tissue was cleared in xylene twice for 3 min each and coverslipped using a nonfluorescence mounting medium. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with a fluorescence light microscope, and TIF images were captured, and the number of surviving neurons in the cortex-total area and hippocampus-total area of the brain was analyzed using ImageJ software.


### 2.9. Cholesterol, GSH, and ROS Assays

The total cholesterol and free cholesterol levels in brain homogenates were quantified using an assay kit (ab65390, Abcam) according to the manufacturer’s approved guidelines.The glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio were measured with a fluorometric GSH assay kit (BioVision Inc., Milpitas, CA, USA; cat. no. K264–100), according to the company’s product protocol.ROS levels were examined as previously described [52]. Briefly, the animal’s brain homogenates were diluted in ice-cold Locke’s buffer (1 : 20) to attain a final concentration solution of 5.0 mg/tissue/ml. To attain the fluorescence, 1 ml solution (Locke’s buffer, pH 7.4, and 0.2 ml brain homogenate) was incubated with 10 ml of 5 mM dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CAS #4091-99-0) for 30 min resulting in the oxidation of DCFH-DA into fluorescent product dichlorofluorescein (DCF).The fluorescence intensities of assays were measured (cholesterol:Ex/Em=535/587nm, GSH: Ex/Em=340/420nm, and ROS: Ex/Em=484/530nm) with a 96-well fluorescence microplate reader ApoTox-Glo™ (Triplex Assay, Promega, Madison, WI, USA).


### 2.10. Statistical Analysis

The immunoblot bands (X-ray scanned film) and immunofluorescence images (densitometries) were analyzed with ImageJ, and all experimental datasets were statistically assessed by GraphPad Prism software (ver. 7.0, San Diego, CA) using one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) succeeded by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results were presented as themean±SEM. Statistical differences presented as ∗P≤0.05 (for the control group) and #P≤0.05 (for the quinovic acid-treated group) were considered significant when compared both to the Aβ toxic group. Statistical analysis is conferred in the figure legends.


## 2.1. Drug Preparation

Forin vivo intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration, Aβ (1-42) peptide was prepared as formerly mentioned [47]. Briefly, the human Aβ (1-42) peptide (purchased from Sigma Chemicals Co.) was prepared in a sterile saline solution at a stock concentration of 1 mg/ml followed by aggregation via incubation at 37°C and administered at 5 μl/mice. For in vitro studies, the oligomeric Aβ (1-42) (AβO) was prepared as reported previously [48]. Concisely, the Aβ (1-42) peptide was dissolved in 100% hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP). The HFIP was then evaporated under vacuum and reconstituted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to produce 5 mM suspension. The 5 mM HFIP-treated Aβ (1-42) suspension was further diluted to 100 μM in F12 culture media (Gibco by Life Technologies, USA) lacking phenol red and incubated for 24 h at 5°C. The solution containing peptide was centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C, and the supernatant containing AβO was collected. For cell treatment, AβO was used at a final concentration of 5 μM. The quinovic acid (QA) was isolated as previously reported [41] and was dissolved in a saline solution for in vivo administration and in DMSO for in vitro analysis. Pifithrin-α (Axon Medchem) was dissolved in DMSO and used at a concentration of 10 μM for in vitro analysis.


## 2.2. Cell Culture, MTT Assay, and Treatment

Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (purchased from Korean Cell Line Bank) were grown in MEM+F12 (1 : 1) supplemented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin and 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were cultured in saturated humidified air containing 5% CO2 at 37°C. The experiments were commenced until cells grew up to 60-70% confluence.MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to evaluate the levels of cell viability and dose optimization as performed previously [49]. SH-SY5Y cells were grown in a 96-well assay plate (2×104 cells/well) in 100 ml/well of MEM+F12 (1 : 1) media augmented with 1% penicillin-streptomycin and 10% FBS. The cells were incubated in humidified air with 5% CO2 at 37°C, and the medium was changed at a regular interval. At 60-70% confluence media were changed, and the cells were either treated alone with different concentrations of quinovic acid (0, 5, 10, 30, 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115 μM) dissolved in DMSO or cotreated with AβO (5 μM) for dose optimization and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. The final concentration of DMSO was kept less than 0.25% in each well. Control culture wells either contained maintenance media or were augmented with 0.2% DMSO (vehicle control). After incubation, 10 μl of MTT (5 mg/ml in PBS)/well was added and incubated for 4 h. The blue formazan formed was solubilized by adding 100 μl of DMSO after media were removed and incubated for another 10-15 min. The absorbance intensity was measured at 550-570 nm using a microplate reader ApoTox-Glo™ (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). The experiments were performed in triplicate.For western blot analysis, SH-SY5Y cells were seeded in a 100 mm Petri dish. After 70% confluence, the cells were treated with the following: (a) AβO (5 μM) alone, (b) pretreated 60 min with pifithrin-α (10 μM) before exposure to AβO, (c) AβO cotreated with quinovic acid (85 μM), (d) treated with PFT, or (e) quinovic acid alone for 24 h. AβO concentration of 5 μM was used in all culture experiment. Control cells were only incubated with the pure medium. After 24 h of incubation, cells were collected in PBS by scraping and centrifuged at 13,000×g for 10 min at 4°C. The supernatant was removed, and PRO-PREP (a protein extraction solution) was added according to the manufacturer’s approved guidelines (iNtRON Biotechnology) followed by sonication and centrifuged at 4°C at 13,000 rpm for 30 min, and supernatants were collected to obtain cell lysates. The protein concentration in lysates was quantified using the Bio-Rad assay solution.


## 2.3. Experimental Subjects

Male C57BL/6J wild-type mice were obtained from Samtako Bio Korea and were approximately 25-30 g and 8 weeks old at the start of experiments. The animals were randomly retained in groups of four in each cage and acclimatized for one week at room temperature in a fully controlled university animal facility (12 : 12 h light-dark cycle at23±2°C) with free access to water and chow. The animals were assigned to the following 3 different groups (n=12 mice/group): saline-treated control, Aβ+saline, and Aβ+QA. All experiments in the current study followed the guidelines and principles of the Animal Ethics Committee (IACUC) (Approval ID: 125) from the Division of Life Sciences and Applied Life Sciences at Gyeongsang National University (GNU), South Korea.


## 2.4. Mouse Model and Drug Administration

For Aβ (1-42) i.c.v. administration, the mice were anesthetized with a Rompun : Zoletil ratio of 0.5 ml/100 g body weight and were intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injected with aggregated Aβ (1-42) or vehicle control (saline) stereotaxically using a Hamilton microsyringe inserted 1 mm median-to-lateral, -0.2 mm from anterior-to-posterior, and -2.4 mm ventral-to-dorsal to the bregma. The Aβ (1-42) (total 5 μl/mice) was injected at the degree of 1 μl/5 min/mouse. The needle was left in place to avoid leakage or backflow for at least 3 min. The experiments were performed at a controlled temperature (36±1°C) to prevent hypothermia.Soon after the recovery period (24 h), the mice received quinovic acid at 50 mg/kg dose concentration or saline (0.1% normal) solution, administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) on alternative days for 3 weeks. Schematic representation of experimental procedure and drug administration is indicated in Figure1.Figure 1
Schematic representation of experimental procedure and drug administration. The red arrow represents the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of amyloid-beta (1-42) (dose: 5μl/mice given at the rate of 1 μl/min) after 1 week of mouse acclimation. The green bar represents the quinovic acid treatment (dose: 50 mg/kg/body weight in a saline solution, i.p.) on each alternative day for 3 weeks. Behavior studies (Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze analysis) were performed in the last week. The blue arrow represents the day when mice were sacrificed for biochemical and morphological studies.


## 2.5. Animal Behavioral Analysis

The spatial learning and memory were examined (on days 14-20) after Aβ (1-42) i.c.v. injection using the Morris water maze (MWM) and Y-maze. The animal’s trials and routes were recorded using automated tracking system software (SMART, Panlab Harvard Apparatus, Bioscience Company, Holliston, USA).The Morris water maze (MWM) is a circular pool (100 cm in diameter, 40 cm in depth) filled with opaque (by adding white nontoxic ink) water at room temperature (25±1°C), with a transparent platform (10 cm in diameter, 14 cm in height) submerged 1 cm deep in one of the four arbitrary pool quadrants. The animals were initially acclimated to the pool for swimming a day before the start of the experiment for 60 sec with no platform. To find the escape latency (time to find the hidden platform), the mice were initially trained for five consecutive days with 3 trial sessions (120 sec/trial) per day to test the reference memory. The platform was placed in one of the quadrants with a change in position to other quadrants during each trial. The animals were placed in the center of one of the quadrants and were allowed to find the platform. Animals that surpassed the permitted time were guided manually and allowed for 10 s to stay on the platform before being removed. On day 6, a probe test was performed to analyze spatial memory retention among the animal groups. The platform was removed from the pool, and the mice were allowed for 60 sec cutoff time from one of the quadrants to find the platform location. The time spent in individual quadrants, with the total number of crossing, to locate the escape platform and track the path distance was recorded and analyzed.The Y-maze was used to assess the spontaneous alteration (exploratory behavior/preference to explore new maze arms) to test the animals’ cognitive and working memory. The experiments were performed in a white Y-shaped maze (arm coordinates: length 75 cm, breadth 15 cm, and 10 cm height) with 120° amid each arm. The animals were introduced to one of the maze arms and were allowed to explore freely for 8 min. The experiment was performed and recorded in 3 trial sessions per day with each time the mice were placed in a different arm, and 85% of animal bodily entries were recorded as a successful entry. The % spontaneous alterations were analyzed based on the equation as follows:100×successivetripletsetsentriesintothreedifferentarmsconsecutively/totalnumberofarmentries−2.


## 2.6. Tissue Collection and Sample Preparations

After behavioral assessments followed by last i.p. injection, the animals were anesthetized. For biochemical analysis, the brains were removed immediately, and the cortex and hippocampal regions were isolated on dry ice and stored at −80°C. For protein extraction, both the brain regions were homogenized in PRO-PREP (a protein extraction solution) followed by centrifugation at 4°C at 13,000 rpm for 30 min and supernatants were collected. For immunohistochemical and morphological analysis, the mice were transcardially perfused with 0.9% normal saline followed by reperfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA). Brains were removed and fixed by submerging in ice-cold PFA for 72 h at 4°C and then transferred to 20% sucrose till the brains sunk to the bottom of the tube. The brain tissue was frozen in O.C.T. (Tissue-Tek O.C.T. Compound Medium, Sakura Finetek USA, Inc., Torrance, CA, USA). The 14μm coronal plane tissue sections were obtained with CM 3050C cryostat (Leica, Germany) and thaw-mounted on a positively charged gelatin-coated slide.


## 2.7. Immunoblotting and Immunofluorescence

Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence were performed as previously described in our lab research work [50, 51]. For immunoblot, β-actin expression was used as an internal control for all experiments. The immunofluorescence visualizations were performed using laser scanning confocal microscopy (FluoView FV1000 MPE). The data from both techniques were evaluated using computer-based ImageJ software and GraphPad Prism (ver. 7.0). Values are presented means±standarderrorsofthemeanSEM. The following antibodies were used in immunoblotting and immunofluorescence (Table 1).Table 1
List of antibodies used in immunoblot and confocal microscopy.
Primary antibodies
Source
Western blot
Immunohistochemistry
Mouse anti-β-amyloid antibody (B-4)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-BACE antibody (61-3E7)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-p53 antibody (DO-1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-p53 antibody
Cell Signaling
—
1 : 2000
Mouse anti-HMGCR antibody (C-1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
1 : 100
Rabbit anti-Keap1 antibody (H-190)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-Nrf2 antibody (A-10)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
1 : 100
Mouse anti-heme oxygenase 1 antibody (A-3)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-heme oxygenase 1 antibody (E9H3A)
Cell Signaling
—
1 : 1500
Mouse anti-p-JNK antibody (G-7)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-p-NF-κB p65 antibody (27.Ser 536)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-IL-1β antibody (E7-2-hIL1β)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-GFAP antibody (2E1)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
1 : 100
Mouse anti-Iba-1 antibody (1022-5)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Rabbit anti-Iba-1 antibody (PA5-27436)
Thermo Fisher Scientific
—
1 : 100
Mouse anti-Bax antibody (2D2)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-Bcl-2 antibody (100)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-caspase-3 antibody (E-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—
Mouse anti-cytochrome c (A-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
—
Mouse anti-PSD-95 antibody (6D677)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 300
—
Mouse anti-SYP antibody (H-8)
Santa Cruz Biotechnology
1 : 1000
—


## 2.8. Nissl Staining

Nissl staining was performed to analyze brain tissue neural morphology and pathology. Briefly, the brain sections were washed twice in PBS (0.01 M) for 15 min and then incubated for 8-10 min in crystal 0.5% cresyl violet staining solution augmented with few drops of glacial acetic acid. The tissue was then washed with distilled water and differentiated in ethyl alcohol (70, 95, and 100%) for 15 min. After dehydration, the tissue was cleared in xylene twice for 3 min each and coverslipped using a nonfluorescence mounting medium. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with a fluorescence light microscope, and TIF images were captured, and the number of surviving neurons in the cortex-total area and hippocampus-total area of the brain was analyzed using ImageJ software.


## 2.9. Cholesterol, GSH, and ROS Assays

The total cholesterol and free cholesterol levels in brain homogenates were quantified using an assay kit (ab65390, Abcam) according to the manufacturer’s approved guidelines.The glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio were measured with a fluorometric GSH assay kit (BioVision Inc., Milpitas, CA, USA; cat. no. K264–100), according to the company’s product protocol.ROS levels were examined as previously described [52]. Briefly, the animal’s brain homogenates were diluted in ice-cold Locke’s buffer (1 : 20) to attain a final concentration solution of 5.0 mg/tissue/ml. To attain the fluorescence, 1 ml solution (Locke’s buffer, pH 7.4, and 0.2 ml brain homogenate) was incubated with 10 ml of 5 mM dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, CAS #4091-99-0) for 30 min resulting in the oxidation of DCFH-DA into fluorescent product dichlorofluorescein (DCF).The fluorescence intensities of assays were measured (cholesterol:Ex/Em=535/587nm, GSH: Ex/Em=340/420nm, and ROS: Ex/Em=484/530nm) with a 96-well fluorescence microplate reader ApoTox-Glo™ (Triplex Assay, Promega, Madison, WI, USA).


## 2.10. Statistical Analysis

The immunoblot bands (X-ray scanned film) and immunofluorescence images (densitometries) were analyzed with ImageJ, and all experimental datasets were statistically assessed by GraphPad Prism software (ver. 7.0, San Diego, CA) using one-way ANOVA (analysis of variance) succeeded by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results were presented as themean±SEM. Statistical differences presented as ∗P≤0.05 (for the control group) and #P≤0.05 (for the quinovic acid-treated group) were considered significant when compared both to the Aβ toxic group. Statistical analysis is conferred in the figure legends.


## 3. Results

### 3.1. Quinovic Acid Protects SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells against Oligomeric Aβ (1-42)-Induced Neurotoxicity

Forin vitro dose optimization and to observe the neuroprotective effect of QA against oligomeric Aβ (1-42)-induced neurotoxicity, we initially examined the cytotoxicity profile of the different concentrations of QA (5, 10, 30, 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115 μM) in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line via MTT assay. The results showed that QA did not significantly affect the cell viability up to the 100 μM range. Notably, the cells treated with vehicle control (0.2% DMSO) also did not alter the cell viability compared to cells that were only grown in maintenance media (Figure S1a). Next, the cells were exposed to oligomeric Aβ (1-42) (AβO) (5 μM) alone or cotreated with different concentrations of QA (5-115 μM). The AβO-treated cells significantly reduced the cell viability compared to control cells (Figure S1b). However, QA-treated cells at a concentration of 55, 70, and 85 μM significantly perpetuated the cell viability in comparison to AβO-treated cells. The QA dose treatment of 85 μM presented the most prominent attenuation of AβO-induced neuronal cell death (Figure S1b).


### 3.2. Quinovic Acid Restrained the p53/HMGCR-Mediated Brain Cholesterol Accumulation Induced by Aβ (1-42) in Mice

Aβ (1-42) is highly amyloidogenic and has been widely used as a proteotoxic agent in understanding AD pathology [53, 54]. First, we determine whether i.c.v. administration of Aβ (1-42) instigates the APP metabolism and amyloidogenic process. We found increased Aβ oligomer and monomer formation along with elevated BACE1 enzyme expression in the immunoblot of Aβ (1-42)-treated mice when compared to normal mice (Figure 2(a)). However, QA treatment significantly abrogated the increased amyloidogenic process as can be seen by the reduced expressions of the most toxic Aβ monomer, oligomer, and dodecamer formation and low BACE1 enzyme expressions within the cortex and hippocampal regions compared to nontreated Aβ (1-42) mice (Figure 2(a)). Next, to ascertain whether the Aβ (1-42) prompted cholesterol accumulation in a possible p53/HMGCR-dependent manner, we found increased expressions and immunoreactivities of p53 in the immunoblot and brain slices, respectively, of both the cortex and hippocampus in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared to control littermates (Figures 2(a) and 2(e)). These results were in line with previous studies implying increased p53 levels observed both in vivo [3, 5, 55] and in vitro [3]. The amplified p53 levels in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice were accompanied by augmented brain cholesterol as can be seen by elevated HMGCR expression and immunoreactivity (Figures 2(a) and 2(e)) and high total and free cholesterol content in both the cortex and hippocampal brain regions (Figures 2(c) and 2(d)) when compared to the control mouse cohort. However, the treatment with QA (50 mg/kg dose) significantly alleviated the expression and immunoreactivities of p53 and HMGCR and lowered the total and free cholesterol levels in comparison to only Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figures 2(a)–2(c) and 2(e)). To further confirm that Aβ induces cholesterol upsurge through the possible p53/HMGCR axis, the SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to AβO (5 μM) preincubated with or without a p53 pharmacological inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT) which inhibits the p53-dependent transcriptional activity [56]. The AβO-treated cells showed a significant increase in p53 and HMGCR expression compared to untreated control cells. However, the exposure of AβO failed to increase the HMGCR expression in cells when pretreated with PFT (10 μM) without affecting the p53 expression levels when compared to only AβO-treated cells (Figure 2(b)). Moreover, AβO-treated cells cotreated with QA (85 μM) revealed lower expression of p53 and HMGCR in comparison to control cells. Notably, PFT and QA alone treatment did not affect the protein expression of p53 and HMGCR in SH-SY5Y cells when compared to untreated control cells (Figure 2(b)). These results indicate the acute effect of Aβ (1-42) on brain cholesterol accumulation probably through the p53-induced expression of HMGCR enzyme, and treatment with quinovic acid significantly revoked the hypercholesterolemia and mitigated the brain cholesterol levels by deescalating p53 and HMGCR protein levels.Figure 2
Effects of quinovic acid on amyloid-beta pathology and accumulation of cholesterols. (a) Western blot results of Aβ∗, BACE1, p53, and HMGCR in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Western blot results of p53 and HMGCR protein expression in SH-SY5Y cells, with respective bar graphs. (c, d) Quantitative analysis of free and total cholesterol assay in the cortex and hippocampal brain tissue. (e) Representative fluorescence images of immunoreactivity of p53 and HMGCR in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control/cells. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group/cells, and n.s. represents no significant change. Abbreviations: Aβ∗: amyloid-beta monomer; BACE1: beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1; p53: tumor-suppressor protein p53; HMGCR: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase; QA: quinovic acid; PFT: pifithrin-α.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)


### 3.3. Quinovic Acid Exerts Cytoprotection against Cholesterol-Mediated Brain Oxidative Stress through the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Aβ (1-42) Mice

Brain oxidative stress is an important component of AD pathology. Hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased brain oxidized products (ROS) and AD [14, 57, 58], with ROS being considered prime triggers in neurodegenerative disease [26]. To investigate whether the observed upsurge in brain cholesterol accumulations in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice accompanies increased oxidative stress, we found an increase in Keap1 expression (Figure 3(a)) with prominent reduced expression and immunoreactivities of both Nrf2 and its ARE-mediated target gene HO-1 when compared to control mice (Figures 3(a) and 3(e)). Concomitantly, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice also displayed enhanced DCF fluorescence, indicative of high ROS levels, and depleted stores of the reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH : GSSG enzyme ratio throughout the cortex and hippocampal brain regions in comparison to control mice (Figures 3(b)–3(d)). Contrariwise, Aβ (1-42) treatment with QA suppressed Keap1 and significantly increased the Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression and immunoreactivities as well as regulated the ROS and GSH and GSH : GSSG levels to normalcy compared to only Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figures 3(a)–3(e)). These results demonstrate that brain cholesterol accumulations in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice were accompanied by increased oxidative stress burden, and treatment with quinovic acid could protect the brain probably through improved Nrf2-mediated expression of cytoprotective enzymes (HO-1, GSH), thereby regulating the brain cellular redox homeostasis.Figure 3
Effects of quinovic acid on amyloid-beta-induced oxidative stress. (a) Western blot results of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b–d) Quantitative analysis of ROS, GSH, GSH/GSSG assay, respectively. (e) A representative of immunofluorescence images of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs.Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Keap1: Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; GSH: reduced glutathione; GSSG: oxidized glutathione.
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(b)
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(e)


### 3.4. Quinovic Acid Restrained Aβ (1-42)-Induced Gliosis and Neuroinflammatory Mediators

Neuroinflammation is the third most important AD neuropathological factor besides senile plaque and NFT [59], and there are considerable pieces of evidence that direct the cholesterol oxygenated products to upregulate expression of several brain inflammatory cytokines and chemokines [14]. Therefore, we next analyzed whether cholesterol-mediated oxidative stress was associated with pathological neuroinflammation. Compared to control mice, a significant increase in astrogliosis and microgliosis was observed in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice as could be seen by both increased expressions and immunoreactivities of GFAP and Iba-1 proteins in immunoblot and confocal microscopy, respectively, of the cortex and hippocampal brain homogenates (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). Consistent with these, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice also displayed increased protein expressions of p-JNK activation and neuroinflammatory mediators including p-NF-κB and IL-1β (Figure 4(a)). Conversely, treating Aβ (1-42)-injected mice with QA restrained gliosis by significantly ameliorating the expression and immunoreactivities of GFAP and Iba-1 (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)) and prominently attenuated the protein expressions of p-JNK, p-NF-κB, and IL-1β (Figure 4(a)).Figure 4
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced neuroinflammation. (a) Western blot results of Iba-1, GFAP, p-JNK, IL-1β, and p-NF-κB in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Representative immunofluorescence images of Iba-1 and GFAP in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Iba-1: ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; p-JNK: phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase; IL-1β: interleukin 1 beta; p-NF-κB: phospho-nuclear factor-kappa B.
(a)
(b)Conclusively, these results reveal that cholesterol-mediated oxidative stress in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice is closely associated with brain neuroinflammation and treatment with quinovic acid could protect the brain from inflammatory mediators and improve the pathological state.


### 3.5. Quinovic Acid Improved the Mitochondrial System against Aβ-Induced Neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-renowned player in AD [60]. The neuropathological states including oxidative stress burden and neuroinflammation can cause the deterioration of mitochondrial functions and mediate glial and neuronal cell apoptosis and neurodegeneration [61]. Correspondingly, proapoptotic Bax protein expression levels were upregulated and were also accompanied by a decline in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression from Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared with normal mice (Figure 5(a)). These cellular conditions in Aβ (1-42) mice aggravated the mitochondrial functions by significantly enhancing cytochrome c release and consequently triggered apoptosis leading to cell death as can be seen by substantial expression in caspase-3 when compared to normal mice (Figure 5(a)). Similarly, the histological staining of brain slices also revealed a reduced number of sparsely arranged Nissl bodies in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared to control mice (Figure 5(b)). However, the Aβ (1-42) mice treated with QA improved the brain mitochondrial system in both the cortex and hippocampal homogenates by downregulating Bax protein and elevating Bcl-2 expressions as well as reduced cytochrome c and abolished cell death as visualized by diminished caspase-3 expression (Figure 5(a)). The QA-treated brain also displayed higher density and deeper stained Nissl bodies contrary to only Aβ (1-42)-infused mice (Figure 5(b)).Figure 5
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced apoptotic cell death. (a) Western blot results of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Representative Nissl staining images the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs.Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2: Cyt-c: cytochrome c; Casp-3: caspase-3.
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### 3.6. Quinovic Acid Alleviated Synaptic Dysfunction and Improved Behavioral Measures in Aβ (1-42) Mice

AD is considered a synaptic failure [62]. It has been hypothesized that Aβ-induced free radicals affect neurotransmission and synaptic activity in neurons and mediate cognitive dysfunction [2, 35, 63]. Supporting this notion, we found a decline in synaptic function in Aβ (1-42) mice as could be seen by downregulated presynaptic SYP (synaptophysin) and postsynaptic PSD-95 (postsynaptic density) protein expressions compared to the age-matched control subjects (Figure 6(a)). Strikingly, administering QA ameliorated the pre- (SYP) and postsynaptic (PSD-95) expression levels (Figure 6(a)) and improved the synapse loss and neurotransmission relative to Aβ (1-42)-infused mice. Furthermore, to analyze the spatial memory, the mice were subjected to the MWM test for five-day acquisition training followed by a probe test. All experimental animals featured comparable but higher escape latencies in the first three days. However, escape latencies were decreased for all experimental groups over the next two-day training period with a significant difference between the control group and the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figure 6(b)). The overall gradual reduction in escape latencies during training days demonstrated that animals were successful in learning the maze. However, during the probe trial, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice took a significantly longer time to reach the escape platform region and prominently displayed a reduced number of crossing and time spent in the target quadrant than the littermate control mice (Figures 6(c)–6(e)). Conversely, these discrepancies were significantly ameliorated when Aβ (1-42) mice were treated with QA, which decreased the time to reach the escape platform and increased the number of platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant (Figures 6(c)–6(e)), hence signifying improved memory retention. However, there was no significant difference in swimming speed among all the groups (Figure 6(f)) implying the normal physiological function of motor neurons and comparable ability to reach the hidden platform. To evaluate spatial working memory, the mice were allowed to explore the Y-maze. The Aβ (1-42)-treated mice revealed less curiosity to explore the novel arms with a significant change in % spontaneous alterations relative to control mice. Notably, these functional impairments were no longer observed in QA-treated mice, which had improved novel arm entry performance (Figure 6(g)).Figure 6
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced synaptic and memory dysfunctions. (a) Western blot results of SYP (synaptophysin) and PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein-95) in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Bar graph showing the escape latency during the 5-day training. (c) Bar graph showing the escape latency on the 6th day/probe test. (d) Probe test showing the number of platform crossings. (e) Bar graph showing the total time spent in the target quadrant. (f) Bar graph showing the swimming speed of the mice. (g) Bar graph showing the spontaneous alternation behaviors in the Y-maze test. (h, i) Representative images of trajectories and path length covered by the mice during the probe test in the MWM and in the Y-maze, respectively.β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. n.s. = no significance. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Abbreviations: SYP: synaptophysin; PSD-95: postsynaptic density protein-95; MWM: Morris water maze.
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(i)Together, these results declare that QA administration could improve synapse and cognitive health and protect the brain from Aβ (1-42)-induced spatial learning and spatial short-term working memory deficits.


## 3.1. Quinovic Acid Protects SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells against Oligomeric Aβ (1-42)-Induced Neurotoxicity

Forin vitro dose optimization and to observe the neuroprotective effect of QA against oligomeric Aβ (1-42)-induced neurotoxicity, we initially examined the cytotoxicity profile of the different concentrations of QA (5, 10, 30, 55, 70, 85, 100, and 115 μM) in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line via MTT assay. The results showed that QA did not significantly affect the cell viability up to the 100 μM range. Notably, the cells treated with vehicle control (0.2% DMSO) also did not alter the cell viability compared to cells that were only grown in maintenance media (Figure S1a). Next, the cells were exposed to oligomeric Aβ (1-42) (AβO) (5 μM) alone or cotreated with different concentrations of QA (5-115 μM). The AβO-treated cells significantly reduced the cell viability compared to control cells (Figure S1b). However, QA-treated cells at a concentration of 55, 70, and 85 μM significantly perpetuated the cell viability in comparison to AβO-treated cells. The QA dose treatment of 85 μM presented the most prominent attenuation of AβO-induced neuronal cell death (Figure S1b).


## 3.2. Quinovic Acid Restrained the p53/HMGCR-Mediated Brain Cholesterol Accumulation Induced by Aβ (1-42) in Mice

Aβ (1-42) is highly amyloidogenic and has been widely used as a proteotoxic agent in understanding AD pathology [53, 54]. First, we determine whether i.c.v. administration of Aβ (1-42) instigates the APP metabolism and amyloidogenic process. We found increased Aβ oligomer and monomer formation along with elevated BACE1 enzyme expression in the immunoblot of Aβ (1-42)-treated mice when compared to normal mice (Figure 2(a)). However, QA treatment significantly abrogated the increased amyloidogenic process as can be seen by the reduced expressions of the most toxic Aβ monomer, oligomer, and dodecamer formation and low BACE1 enzyme expressions within the cortex and hippocampal regions compared to nontreated Aβ (1-42) mice (Figure 2(a)). Next, to ascertain whether the Aβ (1-42) prompted cholesterol accumulation in a possible p53/HMGCR-dependent manner, we found increased expressions and immunoreactivities of p53 in the immunoblot and brain slices, respectively, of both the cortex and hippocampus in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared to control littermates (Figures 2(a) and 2(e)). These results were in line with previous studies implying increased p53 levels observed both in vivo [3, 5, 55] and in vitro [3]. The amplified p53 levels in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice were accompanied by augmented brain cholesterol as can be seen by elevated HMGCR expression and immunoreactivity (Figures 2(a) and 2(e)) and high total and free cholesterol content in both the cortex and hippocampal brain regions (Figures 2(c) and 2(d)) when compared to the control mouse cohort. However, the treatment with QA (50 mg/kg dose) significantly alleviated the expression and immunoreactivities of p53 and HMGCR and lowered the total and free cholesterol levels in comparison to only Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figures 2(a)–2(c) and 2(e)). To further confirm that Aβ induces cholesterol upsurge through the possible p53/HMGCR axis, the SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to AβO (5 μM) preincubated with or without a p53 pharmacological inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT) which inhibits the p53-dependent transcriptional activity [56]. The AβO-treated cells showed a significant increase in p53 and HMGCR expression compared to untreated control cells. However, the exposure of AβO failed to increase the HMGCR expression in cells when pretreated with PFT (10 μM) without affecting the p53 expression levels when compared to only AβO-treated cells (Figure 2(b)). Moreover, AβO-treated cells cotreated with QA (85 μM) revealed lower expression of p53 and HMGCR in comparison to control cells. Notably, PFT and QA alone treatment did not affect the protein expression of p53 and HMGCR in SH-SY5Y cells when compared to untreated control cells (Figure 2(b)). These results indicate the acute effect of Aβ (1-42) on brain cholesterol accumulation probably through the p53-induced expression of HMGCR enzyme, and treatment with quinovic acid significantly revoked the hypercholesterolemia and mitigated the brain cholesterol levels by deescalating p53 and HMGCR protein levels.Figure 2
Effects of quinovic acid on amyloid-beta pathology and accumulation of cholesterols. (a) Western blot results of Aβ∗, BACE1, p53, and HMGCR in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Western blot results of p53 and HMGCR protein expression in SH-SY5Y cells, with respective bar graphs. (c, d) Quantitative analysis of free and total cholesterol assay in the cortex and hippocampal brain tissue. (e) Representative fluorescence images of immunoreactivity of p53 and HMGCR in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control/cells. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group/cells, and n.s. represents no significant change. Abbreviations: Aβ∗: amyloid-beta monomer; BACE1: beta-site APP cleaving enzyme 1; p53: tumor-suppressor protein p53; HMGCR: 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase; QA: quinovic acid; PFT: pifithrin-α.
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## 3.3. Quinovic Acid Exerts Cytoprotection against Cholesterol-Mediated Brain Oxidative Stress through the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Aβ (1-42) Mice

Brain oxidative stress is an important component of AD pathology. Hypercholesterolemia is associated with increased brain oxidized products (ROS) and AD [14, 57, 58], with ROS being considered prime triggers in neurodegenerative disease [26]. To investigate whether the observed upsurge in brain cholesterol accumulations in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice accompanies increased oxidative stress, we found an increase in Keap1 expression (Figure 3(a)) with prominent reduced expression and immunoreactivities of both Nrf2 and its ARE-mediated target gene HO-1 when compared to control mice (Figures 3(a) and 3(e)). Concomitantly, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice also displayed enhanced DCF fluorescence, indicative of high ROS levels, and depleted stores of the reduced glutathione (GSH) and GSH : GSSG enzyme ratio throughout the cortex and hippocampal brain regions in comparison to control mice (Figures 3(b)–3(d)). Contrariwise, Aβ (1-42) treatment with QA suppressed Keap1 and significantly increased the Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression and immunoreactivities as well as regulated the ROS and GSH and GSH : GSSG levels to normalcy compared to only Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figures 3(a)–3(e)). These results demonstrate that brain cholesterol accumulations in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice were accompanied by increased oxidative stress burden, and treatment with quinovic acid could protect the brain probably through improved Nrf2-mediated expression of cytoprotective enzymes (HO-1, GSH), thereby regulating the brain cellular redox homeostasis.Figure 3
Effects of quinovic acid on amyloid-beta-induced oxidative stress. (a) Western blot results of Keap1, Nrf2, and HO-1 in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b–d) Quantitative analysis of ROS, GSH, GSH/GSSG assay, respectively. (e) A representative of immunofluorescence images of Nrf2 and HO-1 in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs.Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Keap1: Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1; Nrf2: nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; HO-1: heme oxygenase 1; ROS: reactive oxygen species; GSH: reduced glutathione; GSSG: oxidized glutathione.
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## 3.4. Quinovic Acid Restrained Aβ (1-42)-Induced Gliosis and Neuroinflammatory Mediators

Neuroinflammation is the third most important AD neuropathological factor besides senile plaque and NFT [59], and there are considerable pieces of evidence that direct the cholesterol oxygenated products to upregulate expression of several brain inflammatory cytokines and chemokines [14]. Therefore, we next analyzed whether cholesterol-mediated oxidative stress was associated with pathological neuroinflammation. Compared to control mice, a significant increase in astrogliosis and microgliosis was observed in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice as could be seen by both increased expressions and immunoreactivities of GFAP and Iba-1 proteins in immunoblot and confocal microscopy, respectively, of the cortex and hippocampal brain homogenates (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)). Consistent with these, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice also displayed increased protein expressions of p-JNK activation and neuroinflammatory mediators including p-NF-κB and IL-1β (Figure 4(a)). Conversely, treating Aβ (1-42)-injected mice with QA restrained gliosis by significantly ameliorating the expression and immunoreactivities of GFAP and Iba-1 (Figures 4(a) and 4(b)) and prominently attenuated the protein expressions of p-JNK, p-NF-κB, and IL-1β (Figure 4(a)).Figure 4
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced neuroinflammation. (a) Western blot results of Iba-1, GFAP, p-JNK, IL-1β, and p-NF-κB in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Representative immunofluorescence images of Iba-1 and GFAP in the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Iba-1: ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; p-JNK: phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase; IL-1β: interleukin 1 beta; p-NF-κB: phospho-nuclear factor-kappa B.
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(b)Conclusively, these results reveal that cholesterol-mediated oxidative stress in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice is closely associated with brain neuroinflammation and treatment with quinovic acid could protect the brain from inflammatory mediators and improve the pathological state.


## 3.5. Quinovic Acid Improved the Mitochondrial System against Aβ-Induced Neurodegeneration

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a well-renowned player in AD [60]. The neuropathological states including oxidative stress burden and neuroinflammation can cause the deterioration of mitochondrial functions and mediate glial and neuronal cell apoptosis and neurodegeneration [61]. Correspondingly, proapoptotic Bax protein expression levels were upregulated and were also accompanied by a decline in antiapoptotic Bcl-2 expression from Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared with normal mice (Figure 5(a)). These cellular conditions in Aβ (1-42) mice aggravated the mitochondrial functions by significantly enhancing cytochrome c release and consequently triggered apoptosis leading to cell death as can be seen by substantial expression in caspase-3 when compared to normal mice (Figure 5(a)). Similarly, the histological staining of brain slices also revealed a reduced number of sparsely arranged Nissl bodies in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice compared to control mice (Figure 5(b)). However, the Aβ (1-42) mice treated with QA improved the brain mitochondrial system in both the cortex and hippocampal homogenates by downregulating Bax protein and elevating Bcl-2 expressions as well as reduced cytochrome c and abolished cell death as visualized by diminished caspase-3 expression (Figure 5(a)). The QA-treated brain also displayed higher density and deeper stained Nissl bodies contrary to only Aβ (1-42)-infused mice (Figure 5(b)).Figure 5
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced apoptotic cell death. (a) Western blot results of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, and caspase-3 in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Representative Nissl staining images the cortex and hippocampus (DG) of the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs.Scalebar=50μm. The values of western blot results were normalized to 1. β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). Data are presented as mean±SEM. ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. Abbreviations: Bax: Bcl-2-associated X protein; Bcl-2: B-cell lymphoma 2: Cyt-c: cytochrome c; Casp-3: caspase-3.
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## 3.6. Quinovic Acid Alleviated Synaptic Dysfunction and Improved Behavioral Measures in Aβ (1-42) Mice

AD is considered a synaptic failure [62]. It has been hypothesized that Aβ-induced free radicals affect neurotransmission and synaptic activity in neurons and mediate cognitive dysfunction [2, 35, 63]. Supporting this notion, we found a decline in synaptic function in Aβ (1-42) mice as could be seen by downregulated presynaptic SYP (synaptophysin) and postsynaptic PSD-95 (postsynaptic density) protein expressions compared to the age-matched control subjects (Figure 6(a)). Strikingly, administering QA ameliorated the pre- (SYP) and postsynaptic (PSD-95) expression levels (Figure 6(a)) and improved the synapse loss and neurotransmission relative to Aβ (1-42)-infused mice. Furthermore, to analyze the spatial memory, the mice were subjected to the MWM test for five-day acquisition training followed by a probe test. All experimental animals featured comparable but higher escape latencies in the first three days. However, escape latencies were decreased for all experimental groups over the next two-day training period with a significant difference between the control group and the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice (Figure 6(b)). The overall gradual reduction in escape latencies during training days demonstrated that animals were successful in learning the maze. However, during the probe trial, the Aβ (1-42)-treated mice took a significantly longer time to reach the escape platform region and prominently displayed a reduced number of crossing and time spent in the target quadrant than the littermate control mice (Figures 6(c)–6(e)). Conversely, these discrepancies were significantly ameliorated when Aβ (1-42) mice were treated with QA, which decreased the time to reach the escape platform and increased the number of platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrant (Figures 6(c)–6(e)), hence signifying improved memory retention. However, there was no significant difference in swimming speed among all the groups (Figure 6(f)) implying the normal physiological function of motor neurons and comparable ability to reach the hidden platform. To evaluate spatial working memory, the mice were allowed to explore the Y-maze. The Aβ (1-42)-treated mice revealed less curiosity to explore the novel arms with a significant change in % spontaneous alterations relative to control mice. Notably, these functional impairments were no longer observed in QA-treated mice, which had improved novel arm entry performance (Figure 6(g)).Figure 6
Effects of quinovic acid against amyloid-beta-induced synaptic and memory dysfunctions. (a) Western blot results of SYP (synaptophysin) and PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein-95) in the experimental groups, with respective bar graphs. (b) Bar graph showing the escape latency during the 5-day training. (c) Bar graph showing the escape latency on the 6th day/probe test. (d) Probe test showing the number of platform crossings. (e) Bar graph showing the total time spent in the target quadrant. (f) Bar graph showing the swimming speed of the mice. (g) Bar graph showing the spontaneous alternation behaviors in the Y-maze test. (h, i) Representative images of trajectories and path length covered by the mice during the probe test in the MWM and in the Y-maze, respectively.β-Actin was used as a loading control; the densities were measured in arbitrary unit (A.U.). ∗P<0.05 compared with the control group. #P<0.05 compared with the Aβ-treated group. n.s. = no significance. Data are presented as mean±SEM. Abbreviations: SYP: synaptophysin; PSD-95: postsynaptic density protein-95; MWM: Morris water maze.
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(i)Together, these results declare that QA administration could improve synapse and cognitive health and protect the brain from Aβ (1-42)-induced spatial learning and spatial short-term working memory deficits.


## 4. Discussion

These data demonstrate the possible modifying role of Aβ (1-42) on cholesterol dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration and probable neuroprotection through quinovic acid. The results revealed that p53 expression is increased in i.c.v. Aβ (1-42) mice and this protein could amplify cellular cholesterol levels due to increased HMGCR expression which is a rate-limiting enzyme for cholesterol synthesis in the MVA pathway. The aberrant rise in cellular cholesterol can impair brain redox homeostasis leading to increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, mediate mitochondrial dysfunction contributing to cell death, and aggravate cognitive ability. However, the quinovic acid administration was found therapeutic against these detrimental effects alleviating the Aβ (1-42)-induced cholesterol accumulation, oxidative stress burden, and subsequent neuroinflammation, thereby improving the mitochondrial function and protecting the brain from Aβ-induced neurodegeneration and cognitive deficits.There is a wealth of literature from epidemiological [64], clinical, and laboratory studies, suggesting the role of cholesterol metabolism in modulating APP processing promoting AD pathogenesis [65], but very little is known about the Aβ effect on modifying cellular cholesterol metabolism leading to neurodegeneration. Previously, studies have revealed that oligomeric Aβ in cultured astrocytes and neurons releases cholesterol and phospholipids [16], increases synthesis, and alters the distribution of free cholesterol in cultured neurons [17]. However, there has been no in vivo data on the possible mechanism that demonstrates the effect of Aβ on cholesterol metabolism and its harmful effect in mediating cell death and cognitive dysfunction.The Aβ (1-42) (i.c.v.) has been widely used as a proteotoxic insult and mimics some key pathological features of AD to understand its molecular pathology [66, 67]. Previously, we and some other research groups have demonstrated that Aβ (1-42) can provoke amyloidogenesis and increase its production through upregulating β-secretase (BACE1) expression [47, 68, 69]. Aβ (1-42) oligomer mediates BACE1 expression by activating cellular stress suggesting oxidative stress as a positive feedback loop between Aβ and β-secretase to maintain its vicious cycle [69, 70]. Likewise, our Aβ (1-42)-infused mice also presented increased aggregated Aβ accumulation in the form of dodecamer, oligomer, and monomer along with increased BACE1 enzyme expression. However, the Aβ accumulation was hampered with quinovic acid treatment, which might have halted the oxidative stress induced by Aβ (1-42), thereby hindering the positive feedback loop between Aβ, oxidative stress, and BACE1.The intracellular Aβ accumulation is an early feature of AD [71] and is known to correlate with p53 activation [55]. p53 is a tumor-suppressor protein involved in cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. The role of p53 in cell death and neurodegeneration has been widely discussed [7, 8]. p53 expression levels are upregulated in both sporadic and familial AD [5, 6]. Furthermore, enhanced p53 expression was detected in brain regions of AD patients undergoing degeneration [72]. Alves da Costa et al. previously reported the involvement of the APP intracellular domain (AICD) as a modulator of p53 gene expression at the transcriptional level both in vivo and in vitro. However, when inhibited, the γ-secretase activity leads to reduced p53 protein expression and mRNA [4]. Another study also reported the association of intracellular Aβ with elevated p53 mRNA and protein in AD and revealed the direct binding of Aβ in a sequence-specific manner to the heat shock element (HSE) region of p53 promotor to activate gene transcription which leads to neuronal apoptosis in AD. Noteworthily, the study also ruled out the possibility of an indirect effect of intraneuronal Aβ on p53 promotor activation through DNA damage [3]. Conclusively, these studies imply the correlation between perturbed APP processing or Aβ metabolism with enhanced p53 expression levels. Consistent with these, apparent increased expression and immunoreactivities of p53 protein were found in Aβ (1-42) mice which had an increased amyloidogenic process as previously described. The upregulation in p53 expression was halted significantly when Aβ (1-42) mice were treated with quinovic acid. This decrease in p53 expression possibly correlates with the downregulation of Aβ in QA-treated mice as explained earlier. p53 being a pleiotropic protein with diverse biological functions [7] is also able to regulate several pathways [9] including cholesterol metabolism [10, 11, 73]. According to el-Deiry et al., nearly all genes that contain at least one or more p53-responsive elements (p53REs) are transactivated by p53 [74]. Laezza et al. reported that p53 regulates the activity of important enzymes of the MVA pathway at the transcriptional level in U343 and normal human astrocytic cells. The study finds the presence of p53REs in the promotor region of MVA metabolism-related genes including MVK, FDPS, FDFT1, and HMGCR, implying that p53 could induce their transcription by binding to a promoter-specific region of these genes to instigate cholesterol synthesis [12]. In accord with this, our Aβ (1-42)-treated mice which had elevated p53 levels were also accompanied by increased expression and immunoreactivities of HMGCR enzyme. The cholesterol assay also revealed upsurge in total and free cholesterol levels indicating the possible involvement of the p53/HMGCR axis in cholesterol dyshomeostasis. This was further confirmed by the use of a specific p53-dependent transcriptional inhibitor pifithrin-α (PFT) [75, 76]. Preincubating SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with PFT before being exposed to Aβ oligomer (AβO) restrained the increase in HMGCR expression compared to only AβO-treated cells. Notably, the PFT did not affect the p53 expression levels in AβO-treated cells, indicating that it only inhibits its transcriptional activity without affecting its expression levels. However, QA and AβO cotreated cells showed significantly reduced expression of p53 and HMGCR. QA-treated mice also displayed decreased p53 expression and low levels of total and free cholesterol due to the downregulation of HMGCR enzyme expression. Of direct relevance to the existent work, few retrospective in vitro studies defined the outcome of Aβ on cholesterol metabolism and showed that oligomeric Aβ can increase synthesis and alter the distribution of free cholesterol in neurons [17], release cholesterol and phospholipids in cultured neurons and astrocytes [16], and modulate the synthesis and cellular cholesterol homeostasis in the rat’s primary neurons without affecting the sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 (SREP-2) [19]. Similarly, many statins which are HMGCR inhibitors for treating hypocholesterolemia are widely used in ameliorating neurodegenerative diseases [27].Taken together, these results determine that Aβ (1-42)-induced expression of p53 could instigate upsurge in brain cholesterol accumulation probably through some part by the increase in HMGCR enzyme expression of the MVA pathway, and administration of quinovic acid could impede the Aβ-induced p53-mediated HMGCR cholesterol accumulation in Aβ (1-42) mice.The impairment in cholesterol metabolism is widely linked with elevated brain oxidized species in neurodegenerative diseases including AD [14, 15, 57, 77, 78]. The cholesterol autooxidation product oxysterols are considered prime triggers of AD [26]. The brain oxidative stress (OS) is an important clinical feature in AD pathology [79]. OS levels are kept within certain limits through the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, which is a cellular defense system and induces neuroprotection against increased oxidative stress. However, in stress condition, the endogenous antioxidant activity of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway is compromised leading to reduced ARE-mediated transcription of phase II enzymes including GST, NAD(P)H : quinone oxidoreductase (NQO-1), and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) and other detoxifying antioxidant genes like HO-1 and peroxiredoxin1 (Prx1) [38, 80, 81]. Our results also showed abnormal mediation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway in the Aβ (1-42)-induced mouse model with increased expression of Keap1 and significantly downregulated Nrf2 expression levels. The Nrf2-AREs mediated downstream cytoprotective enzyme-like HO-1 expression, and GSH and GSH : GSSG ratio levels were decreased prominently along with increased ROS production, illuminating disturbed brain cellular redox states. These results are in accord with previous studies that explained the dysregulation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway in AD [82, 83]. Similarly, the expression levels of Nrf2 and its target Nrf2-ARE gene were found to be reduced in the aging AD model [83]. Moreover, the GSH levels observed were also in line with the previous study that showed depleted levels of glutathione after mitochondrial cholesterol loading in Aβ mice intensifying neuronal damage [84]. Thus, Nrf2-ARE pathway deficiency leads to enhanced susceptibility to oxidative stress [85], and conversely, upregulating this pathway using various natural or synthetic activators and/or electrophilic compounds could protect against oxidative stress-induced toxicity [86–89]. Consistent with these, the quinovic acid treatments reduced brain ROS levels by ameliorating the Nrf2-ARE pathway as seen by increased Nrf2 levels and its ARE-mediated downstream induction of antioxidant enzymes (HO-1 and GST). Previously, triterpenes or triterpenoids have been widely used as potent inducers of theKeap1/Nrf2 pathway as a therapeutic approach [90] in many neurodegenerative diseases including AD [91], Huntington’s disease [92], Parkinson’s disease [86], and multiple sclerosis (MS) [93]. Similarly, the quinovic acid in the cat’s claw extract has been used as a strong antioxidant with potent DPPH scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity [42, 43].Together, these findings indicate that cholesterol dysregulation in i.c.v. Aβ (1-42)-injected mice induces increased oxidative stress burden leading to abnormal mediation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, while quinovic acid treatment could instigate this endogenous antioxidant pathway leading to increased cytoprotective gene expression (HO-1, GST), thereby shielding the brain from Aβ proteotoxic insult through reducing reactive species intermediates.Altered cholesterol metabolism and oxidative stress are closely associated with neuroinflammation in the development of AD. Brain inflammation is a neuropathological factor, and there are considerable shreds of evidence that direct the cholesterol oxygenated products like 24- and 27-hydroxycholesterol, to upregulate expression of several brain inflammatory cytokines and chemokines [14]. In AD, neuroinflammation is accompanied by glial cell activation that releases various chemokines and neurotoxic factors [94, 95]. Consistent with these, we also observed pronounced gliosis in Aβ (1-42) mice with upregulated protein expression of Iba-1 and GFAP. Moreover, activated gliosis was also accompanied by increased inflammatory mediators like p-NF-κB and IL-1β. On the contrary, quinovic acid was beneficial in alleviating the intensity of neuroinflammation. This anti-inflammatory action of quinovic acid is in line with earlier studies that manifested the act of Nrf2 activation in alleviating neuroinflammation [96, 97].Mitochondrial dysregulation plays a vital role in AD [61]. The dysregulated chemokines and proinflammatory cytokines due to activated gliosis mediate mitochondrial dysfunction [98, 99] and provoke glial and neuronal cell death through caspase activation or apoptotic signaling leading to neurodegeneration [100, 101]. Respectively, in accord with these findings, activated apoptotic signaling was observed with increased Bax and downregulated Bcl-2 expression in Aβ (1-42) mice. The pathological condition aggravated the mitochondrial function enhancing cytochrome c release and mediating increased caspase-3 activity leading to cell death. On the contrary, the caspase pathway mediating cell death was obliterated significantly when Aβ (1-42) mice were treated with quinovic acid, thus proposing a neuroprotective approach in rescuing Aβ (1-42)-induced cell death probably through downregulating oxidative and inflammatory pathological states.Mitochondrial impairment is strongly associated with synaptic dysfunction [102], the latter being an important feature and basis of memory deficit in AD [103, 104]. AβOs are notorious and potent synaptotoxins that obstruct synaptic plasticity [105]. Similarly, we found that Aβ (1-42)-induced mitochondrial alterations were concomitant with synapse loss and memory deficit. In our Aβ (1-42) mice, the levels of PSD-95 and synaptophysin were decreased significantly, which according to previous studies showed reduced levels of PSD-95 or synaptophysin in mouse brains receiving AβO i.c.v. infusion and in cortical human brain slices as well as in cultured neurons [106, 107]. Similarly, the behavioral performance was also altered in Aβ (1-42) mice and displayed increased escape latency, reduced crossings, and a decrease in % spontaneous alternation behaviors. These data support many studies that featured similar alterations in behavioral parameters in the Aβ model of AD [108–110]. Notably, quinovic acid administration mitigated synaptic dysfunction and neurobehavioral discrepancies and improved cognitive health in Aβ (1-42)-treated mice. These results concede the notion that modulating the Nrf2 activity could be used as a therapeutic approach in reducing spatial learning and memory deficits [111, 112].


## 5. Conclusions

In summary, these findings demonstrate the significance of Aβ (1-42) on cellular cholesterol dyshomeostasis, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration and its possible neuroprotection through quinovic acid. We illustrated that Aβ (1-42) amplified brain cholesterol in the cortex and hippocampal brain regions through a possible p53/HMGCR pathway. The upsurge in brain cholesterol instigated oxidative stress through enhancing ROS production, thereby assisting abnormal mediation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway leading to cell death and cognitive deficits. These results also suggest that free/altered cholesterol might act at a later step after amyloid-β in driving neurodegeneration and cognitive deficit. Also, the use of quinovic acid may propose a favorable cytoprotective modality by regulating the Nrf2/ARE-driven ROS detoxification pathway leading to reduced oxidative damage, neuroinflammation, cognitive disability, and neurodegeneration. However, future mechanistic studies are warranted to further explore the therapeutic efficacy of the compound (Figure 7).Figure 7
Schematic outline representing the acute effect of Aβ (1-42) on cholesterol dyshomeostasis-induced neurotoxicity and its possible protection through quinovic acid. The proteotoxic Aβ (1-42) increased p53 expression, then later increased 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) of cholesterol synthesis (mevalonate pathway). The upsurge in cholesterol increased oxidative stress and disrupted the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in the brain. This, in turn, leads to increased neuroinflammation, synaptic dysfunction, cell death, and neurodegeneration. However, quinovic acid treatment upregulated the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, protecting the brain from Aβ (1-42)-induced neurotoxic effect.



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*Source: 9523758-2020-11-21.xml*