A screen of plant-based natural products revealed that quercetin prevents pyroglutamylated amyloid-β (Aβ3(pE)-42) uptake in astrocytes as well as resulting astrogliosis and synaptic dysfunction

Two connected histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are chronic neuroinflammation and synaptic dysfunction. The accumulation of the most prevalent posttranslationally modified form of Aβ1-42, pyroglutamylated amyloid-β (Aβ3(pE)-42) in astrocytes is directly linked to glial activation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines that in turn contribute to early synaptic dysfunction in AD. At present, the mechanisms of Aβ3(pE)-42 uptake to astrocytes are unknown and pharmacological interventions that interfere with this process are not available. Here we developed a simple screening assay to identify substances from a plant extract library that prevent astroglial Aβ3(pE)-42 uptake. We first show that this approach yields valid and reproducible results. Second, we show endocytosis of Aβ3(pE)-42 oligomers by astrocytes and that quercetin, a plant flavonol, is effective to specifically block astrocytic buildup of oligomeric Aβ3(pE)-42. Importantly, quercetin does not induce a general impairment of endocytosis. However, it efficiently protects against early synaptic dysfunction following exogenous Aβ3(pE)-42 application.