Interleukin-6 deficiency reduces neuroinflammation by inhibiting the STAT3-cGAS-STING pathway in Alzheimer’s disease mice

Nov 2, 2024Journal of neuroinflammation

Lack of Interleukin-6 lowers brain inflammation by blocking a key immune pathway in mice with Alzheimer's disease

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Abstract

Marked activation of the IL-6-STAT3 and cGAS-STING pathways was observed in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice, which was attenuated in the absence of IL-6.

IL-6 deficiency led to reduced beta-amyloid deposition and in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease mice.
Cognitive improvements were noted in Alzheimer's disease mice lacking IL-6.
STAT3 was found to directly regulate the transcription of the Cgas and Sting genes.
The findings suggest that the STAT3- may play a critical role in mediating neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease.

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BACKGROUND: The Interleukin-6 (IL-6)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway, along with the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, are critical contributors to in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although previous research outside the context of AD has indicated that the IL-6-STAT3 pathway may regulate the , the exact molecular mechanisms through which IL-6-STAT3 influences cGAS-STING in AD are still not well understood.

METHODS: The activation of the IL-6-STAT3 and cGAS-STING pathways in the hippocampus of 5×FAD and WT mice was analyzed using WB and qRT-PCR. To explore the effects of IL-6 deficiency, Il6mice were crossed with 5×FAD mice, and the subsequent impact on hippocampal STAT3 pathway activity, cGAS-STING pathway activation, amyloid pathology, neuroinflammation, and cognitive function was evaluated through WB, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ThS staining, ELISA, and behavioral tests. The regulatory role of STAT3 in the transcription of the Cgas and Sting genes was further validated using ChIP-seq and ChIP-qPCR on hippocampal tissue from 5×FAD and Il6: 5×FAD mice. Additionally, in the BV2 microglial cell line, the impact of STAT3 activation on the transcriptional regulation of Cgas and Sting genes, as well as the production of inflammatory mediators, was examined through WB and qRT-PCR. +/--/-

RESULTS: We observed marked activation of the IL-6-STAT3 and cGAS-STING pathways in the hippocampus of AD mice, which was attenuated in the absence of IL-6. IL-6 deficiency reduced beta-amyloid deposition and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of AD mice, contributing to cognitive improvements. Further analysis revealed that STAT3 directly regulates the transcription of both the Cgas and Sting genes. These findings suggest a potential mechanism involving the STAT3-cGAS-STING pathway, wherein IL-6 deficiency mitigates neuroinflammation in AD mice by modulating this pathway.

CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the STAT3-cGAS-STING pathway is critical in mediating neuroinflammation associated with AD and may represent a potential therapeutic target for modulating this inflammatory process in AD.

Key numbers

significantly lower

Reduction in Aβ burden

Aβ accumulation assessed in the hippocampus of IL-6 deficient vs. AD mice

substantial reduction

Decrease in IL-1β expression

IL-1β levels in the hippocampus of IL-6 deficient vs. AD mice

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Interleukin-6 deficiency reduces neuroinflammation by inhibiting the STAT3-cGAS-STING pathway in Alzheimer’s disease mice

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