Study of Alzheimer's disease model induced by Japanese encephalitis virus

• Main Authors: Kuan-Hua Huang, 黃冠華
• Other Authors: Chang-Jer Wu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2012
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/50593724064153956373

碩士 === 國立臺灣海洋大學 === 食品科學系 === 100 === Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a neurotropic flavivirus, is one of the major causes of acute encephalitis in human. The mortality range between 5 to 60%. However, it often results in severe neurological sequelae and learning disabilities after rehabilitation. Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodengenerative disorder, is the most common form of dementia among the elderly. It causes mental deterioration, mobility, lack of sense of space and sense of direction and mood swings symptoms. Japanese encephalitis can cause degradation of intelligence and serious damage of the nervous system which is similar to Alzheimer’s disease. The aims of this study are to explore the pathologic correlation of the Japanese encephalitis virus and the Alzheimer’s disease, and to use the antioxidants EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) and Vit. C (Vitamin C) to observe whether they can attenuate the inflammation caused by Japanese encephalitis virus. Animal experiments showed that mice infected with JEV, the expressions of APP (amyloid of precursor protein) and BACE (β-secretase), Alzheimer’s disease related factors, increased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the expression of TTR (transthyretin) decreased, so did iNOS and beta-amyloid (Aβ), some loosely structures were observed in the hippocampus and cortex. The memory and the learning ability of the mice infected with low-dose JEV decreased with time elapse, similar to 16 month old mice. And Aβ were observed in the hippocampus and cortex. However, antioxidant compounds EGCG and Vit. C increased the expressions of APP, BACE and iNOS; while the expression of TTR decreased in neuron cell. In summary, our results showed that JEV infection may result in the Alzheimer’s disease related genes expression and inteligence degradation similar to Alzheimer’s disease. The antioxidants EGCG and Vit. C can improve the expressions of APP, TTR, BACE and iNOS.