Evaluating the protective function of TSPO ligand against Alzheimer’s disease via polyomics

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and is a growing global health concern in the world, affecting around 850,000 people in the UK. AD is characterized by a spectrum of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including severe memory loss, behavioural changes, disorientation, visual impairments, sleep disturbances, and at late stages: difficulties in walking and swallowing, and invariably, death. The development and progression of AD is thought to be associated with accumulation of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ42), a metabolite of amyloid precursor protein. Aβ42 can induce neuroinflammation by activating microglia and releasing proinflammatory cytokines and has been shown to impair spatial memory in mice. Pharmacological inhibition of neuroinflammation rescues spatial memory deficit in AD mice. SPO ligand, Etifoxine, has shown the capacity to reverse AD pathology and improve cognitive function. In this project we aim to understand the functional mechanism of ETifoxine via polyomice, inclduing RNA sequencing and metabolomics. Outcome of this project will help to develop new treatment for AD patients.