Ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol Rescues AD Deficits by Modulating Microglia Activation but Not Oxidative Stress

• Main Authors: Hsin-Ping Liu, Yueh-Hsiung Kuo, Jack Cheng, Li-Zhong Chang, Meng-Shiun Chang, Li-Wen Su, Tsai-Ni Chuang, Wei-Yong Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-09-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: Alzheimer’s disease; <i>Drosophila</i>; EK100; ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/17/5338

Ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol (EK100) was isolated from the Taiwan-specific medicinal fungus Antrodia camphorata, which is known for its health-promotion and anti-aging effects in folk medicine. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major aging-associated disease. We investigated the efficacy and potential mechanism of ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol for AD symptoms. <i>Drosophila</i> with the pan-neuronal overexpression of human amyloid-β (Aβ) was used as the AD model. We compared the life span, motor function, learning, memory, oxidative stress, and biomarkers of microglia activation and inflammation of the ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol-treated group to those of the untreated control. Ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol treatment effectively improved the life span, motor function, learning, and memory of the AD model compared to the untreated control. Biomarkers of microglia activation and inflammation were reduced, while the ubiquitous lipid peroxidation, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity remained unchanged. In conclusion, ergosta-7,9(11),22-trien-3β-ol rescues AD deficits by modulating microglia activation but not oxidative stress.