RESUMEN
SCOPE: It remains unclear whether dietary advanced glycation end products (dAGEs)-induced cognitive impairment is sex-dependent. Trehalose may antagonize dAGEs-induced neurotoxicity via glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3ß)-transcription factor EB (TFEB) signaling. METHODS AND RESULTS: The sex-specific neurotoxicity of dAGEs and the protective role of trehalose are investigated both in vivo and in vitro. Both sexes of APP/PS1 mice are divided into three groups: that is, control, dAGEs, and dAGEs supplemented with trehalose. SHSY-5Y cells incubated with AGE-BSA and trehalose are also utilized. Dietary AGEs impair cognitive function only in female mice, which is restored by trehalose. Trehalose upregulates phosphorylated-GSK3ß serine9 (p-GSK3ß ser9), TFEB and transient receptor potential mucolipin 1, ADAM10, oligosaccharyl transferase-48, estrogen receptor α and induces TFEB nuclear translocation in hippocampus, elevates IDE and ERß in cortex, while reduces p-tau ser396&404, CDK5, cathepsin B, and glial fibrillary acidic protein in hippocampus. Trehalose elevates p-GSK3ß ser9, induces TFEB nuclear translocation, consequently reverses AGE-BSA-induced tau phosphorylation in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Female mice are more susceptible to the deleterious effects of dAGEs on cognitive function, which may be owing to its regulation on ERß. Trehalose can strongly reverse dAGEs-induced tau phosphorylation by potentiating TFEB nuclear translocation via inhibiting GSK-3ß.