Lycopene can modulate the LRP1 and RAGE transporters expression at the choroid plexus in Alzheimer’s disease rat

Abstract

• Lycopene may improve amyloid-β clearance through CP epithelial cells. • Lycopene can modulate the LRP1 and RAGE transporters expression at the CP. • Lycopene can enhance antioxidant enzymatic system in the CP of AD rats. • Lycopene can suppress RAGE/NF-κB signaling pathway in the CP of AD rats. This work sought to investigate whether lycopene administration modulated the expression of two major Aβ transporters, i.e., the low-density lipoprotein receptor protein-1 (LRP1) and the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) being localized to the choroid plexus (CP) in the Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rats. Forty-eight adult male Wistar rats were assigned into four equal groups. Results showed that lycopene administration attenuated Aβ accumulation, increased the LRP1 levels, as well as decreased the RAGE levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or the CP. Furthermore, lycopene administration significantly enhanced antioxidant enzymatic system for inactivating and controlling ROS, suppressed RAGE/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) in the CP of AD rats. Our data presented in this report provided the firsthand evidence that lycopene administration might provide a novel therapeutic approach to improve Aβ clearance and prevent CP epithelial cells neuroinflammation in AD.