ABSTRACT
AIMS: Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is highly activated in diabetes, and the decrease of low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein 1 (LRP1) in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) is a key factor leading to amyloid-ß (Aß) deposition in the brain and diabetic cognitive impairment, but the relationship between them is still unknown. METHODS: In vitro, BMECs were cultured with high glucose, and the activation of mTORC1 and sterol-regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) was observed. mTORC1 was inhibited by rapamycin and small interfering RNA (siRNA) in BMECs. Betulin and siRNA inhibited SREBP1, observed the mechanism of mTORC1-mediated effects on Aß efflux in BMECs through LRP1 under high-glucose conditions. Constructed cerebrovascular endothelial cell-specific Raptor-knockout (Raptorfl/+ ) mice to investigate the role of mTORC1 in regulating LRP1-mediated Aß efflux and diabetic cognitive impairment at the tissue level. RESULTS: mTORC1 activation was observed in HBMECs cultured in high glucose, and this change was confirmed in diabetic mice. Inhibiting mTORC1 corrected the reduction in Aß efflux under high-glucose stimulation. In addition, high glucose activated the expression of SREBP1, and inhibiting of mTORC1 reduced the activation and expression of SREBP1. After inhibiting the activity of SREBP1, the presentation of LRP1 was improved, and the decrease of Aß efflux mediated by high glucose was corrected. Raptorfl/+ diabetic mice had significantly inhibited activation of mTORC1 and SREBP1, increased LRP1 expression, increased Aß efflux, and improved cognitive impairment. CONCLUSION: Inhibiting mTORC1 in the brain microvascular endothelium ameliorates diabetic Aß brain deposition and cognitive impairment via the SREBP1/LRP1 signaling pathway, suggesting that mTORC1 may be a potential target for the treatment of diabetic cognitive impairment.
