2. Academic Validation
  3. Microglial AKAP8L: a key mediator in diabetes-associated cognitive impairment via autophagy inhibition and neuroinflammation triggering

Microglial AKAP8L: a key mediator in diabetes-associated cognitive impairment via autophagy inhibition and neuroinflammation triggering

  • J Neuroinflammation. 2024 Jul 20;21(1):177. doi: 10.1186/s12974-024-03170-z.
Wen-Yuan Zhang 1 2,  Qian-Qian Wei 1 2,  Tao Zhang 3 4,  Chang-Shui Wang 5,  Jing Chen 6 7,  Jian-Hua Wang 3 4,  Xin Xie 3 4,  Pei Jiang 8 9
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Pharmacy, Zhongshan City People's Hospital, Zhongshan, 528403, China.
  • 2 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 510006, China.
  • 3 Translational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People ' s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, 272000, China.
  • 4 Institute of Translational Pharmacy, Jining Medical Research Academy, Jining, 272000, China.
  • 5 Department of Neurosurgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining, 272000, China.
  • 6 Neurobiology Key Laboratory, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, China.
  • 7 Division of Biomedical Sciences, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
  • 8 Translational Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Jining First People ' s Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, 272000, China. jiangpeicsu@sina.com.
  • 9 Institute of Translational Pharmacy, Jining Medical Research Academy, Jining, 272000, China. jiangpeicsu@sina.com.
PMID: 39033121 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03170-z
Abstract

Background: Diabetes-associated cognitive impairment (DACI) poses a significant challenge to the self-management of diabetes, markedly elevating the risk of adverse complications. A burgeoning body of evidence implicates microglia as a central player in the pathogenesis of DACI.

Methods: We utilized proteomics to identify potential biomarkers in high glucose (HG)-treated microglia, followed by gene knockdown techniques for mechanistic validation in vitro and in vivo.

Results: Our proteomic analysis identified a significant upregulation of AKAP8L in HG-treated microglia, with concurrent dysregulation of Autophagy and inflammation markers, making AKAP8L a novel biomarker of interest. Notably, the accumulation of AKAP8L was specific to HG-treated microglia, with no observed changes in co-cultured astrocytes or neurons, a pattern that was mirrored in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Further studies through co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay indicated that the elevated AKAP8L in HG-treated microglial cells interacts with the mTORC1. In the STZ mouse model, we demonstrated that both AKAP8L knockdown and rapamycin treatment significantly enhanced cognitive function, as evidenced by improved performance in the Morris water maze, and reduced microglial activation. Moreover, these interventions effectively suppressed mTORC1 signaling, normalized autophagic flux, mitigated neuroinflammation, and decreased Pyroptosis.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight the critical role of AKAP8L in the development of DACI. By interacting with mTORC1, AKAP8L appears to obstruct autophagic processes and initiate a cascade of neuroinflammatory responses. The identification of AKAP8L as a key mediator in DACI opens up new avenues for potential therapeutic interventions.

Keywords

AKAP8L; Autophagy; Diabetes-associated cognitive impairment; Microglia; Neuroinflammation; mTOR.

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