The Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist Montelukast Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Affects Cognition in Transgenic 5xFAD Mice

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. In particular, neuroinflammation, mediated by microglia cells but also through CD8+ T-cells, actively contributes to disease pathology. Leukotrienes are involved in neuroinflammation and in the pathological hallmarks of AD. In consequence, leukotriene signaling—more specifically, the leukotriene receptors—has been recognized as a potential drug target to ameliorate AD pathology. Here, we analyzed the effects of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast (MTK) on hippocampal gene expression in 5xFAD mice, a commonly used transgenic AD mouse model. We identified glial activation and neuroinflammation as the main pathways modulated by MTK. The treatment increased the number of Tmem119+ microglia and downregulated genes related to AD-associated microglia and to lipid droplet-accumulating microglia, suggesting that the MTK treatment targets and modulates microglia phenotypes in the disease model compared to the vehicle. MTK treatment further reduced infiltration of CD8+T-cells into the brain parenchyma. Finally, MTK treatment resulted in improved cognitive functions. In summary, we provide a proof of concept for MTK to be a potential drug candidate for AD and provide novel modes of action via modulation of microglia and CD8+ T-cells. Of note, 5xFAD females showed a more severe pathology, and in consequence, MTK treatment had a more pronounced effect in the females compared to the males. The effects on neuroinflammation, i.e., microglia and CD8+ T-cells, as well as the effects on cognitive outcome, were dose-dependent, therefore arguing for the use of higher doses of MTK in AD clinical trials compared to the approved asthma dose.

Keywords

• leukotriene receptor antagonist
• cysteinyl leukotrienes
• montelukast
• 5xFAD
• cognition
• Alzheimer’s disease