Jenna Bloemer (Larkin U):

Adiponectin induced autophagy and Alzheimer’s Disease

Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipocytes that may reduce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology by multiple mechanisms. A growing body of preclinical data supports the use of adiponectin or adiponectin receptor agonists in the treatment of AD. However, there is conflicting data regarding alterations in adiponectin in clinical AD, and the role of adiponectin induced autophagy in reducing AD pathology remains unclear. Our preliminary data from an animal model of AD indicates possible alterations in adiponectin signaling and autophagy. In the current study, levels of adiponectin receptors and autophagy markers in AD and control postmortem hippocampal samples will be determined by ELISA. The HT-22 hippocampal neuronal cell line will be used to determine whether adiponectin protects against excitotoxicity via enhancement of autophagy. Overall, this study will offer valuable insight into the validity of pursuing the development of adiponectin receptor agonists in the treatment of AD.