YB-1 Protein Prevents Age Decline in Plasma Estradiol in 5xFAD Transgenic Aging Female Mice

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease that is the main cause of dementia in the elderly. When looking for new treatments for AD, attention was drawn to the multifunctional Y-box-binding protein 1 (YB-1). Previously, we revealed a positive effect of intranasal administration of YB-1 on learning and spatial memory, along with a decrease in the content of cerebral β-amyloid and the intensity of plaque initiation, with an improvement in the survival of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus of male AD mice. However, AD affects women twice as often as men, so it is of great interest to study the effects of YB-1 on aging females. Estrogens and androgens are necessary for the maintenance of cognitive function during aging and, apparently, may prevent the development of AD. In this work, peripheral levels of estradiol (E2) and cytokines were studied after intranasal administration of YB-1 to aging female 5xFAD transgenic mice and control non-transgenic animals. In intact aging animals of both groups, a violation of the estrous cycle and a decrease in the level of E2 in blood plasma were revealed. Mice treated with YB-1 did not show a characteristic age-related decrease in plasma E2 levels. The introduction of YB-1 did not affect the peripheral level of cytokines. Thus, a novel, previously undescribed effect of YB-1 on plasma E2 levels in aging female mice is shown. These data indicate that YB-1 may be a promising compound in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, further experiments are needed to gain insight into the detailed mechanisms of YB-1 action.