ePoster

Terpenes and Alzheimer’s disease: An in vitro study

Sveva Dallere, Silvia Chasseur, Marina Boido, Alessandro Vercelli
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Sveva Dallere, Silvia Chasseur, Marina Boido, Alessandro Vercelli

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia during aging. While its pathological hallmarks have been identified, disease-modifying treatments are not yet available. Therefore, there is increasing interest in studying lifestyle interventions that could help in the prevention and mitigation of the symptoms. In this context, we aim to study the effect of green exposure and particularly of phytochemicals inhalation, focusing on terpenes, specifically pinene, widespread in Italy. For this purpose, we set up two stem cell models of AD. The first is NE-4C, a murine neural stem cell line that upon retinoic acid stimulation differentiates at 7 days in neurons and at 14 days in a mixed population of neurons and astrocytes. In this model Aβ1-42 monomers (0.1-5 µM) 48h administration in both undifferentiated and differentiated cells results in increased cell death (assessed through MTT assays), while pinene (250 µM) co-administration enhances viability. Moreover, in NE-4C Aβ1-42 oligomers (whose assembly has been verified through WB) seem to be more toxic compared to monomers. Following monomers or oligomers treatment we also evaluated apoptotic pathway activation through C-Caspase3 staining, whose levels are significantly decreased following pinene treatment. As a second model, we successfully differentiated cortical neurons from hiPSCs using Autar K. et al. protocol (2022) and we are currently repeating the same experiments in a human background. This study clarifies the mechanisms underlying the benefits derived from green exposure, thus representing the scientific basis to promote the diffusion of lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat AD.

Unique ID: fens-24/terpenes-alzheimers-disease-vitro-study-975c858b