Hydrogen Gas Attenuates Toxic Metabolites and Oxidative Stress-Mediated Signaling to Inhibit Neurodegeneration and Enhance Memory in Alzheimer’s Disease Models

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition in which amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques trigger oxidative stress (OS) and neuroinflammation, causing memory loss. OS and neurodegeneration can also be caused by reactive astrocytes, thereby promoting AD via toxic metabolite accumulation in the astrocytic urea cycle. However, the effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) on this cycle remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether H2 treatment could reduce OS-induced neurodegeneration and memory loss. 5xFAD (n = 14) and wild-type (n = 15) mice were randomized into four groups and treated with either 3% hydrogen gas (H2) or vehicle for 60 days. Cognitive behaviors were evaluated using the Morris water maze and Y-maze tests. In addition, we used biochemical assays to measure ammonia and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) levels in the hippocampi of the mice and AβO-treated primary mouse astrocytes. Aβ, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the expression of inflammatory markers were evaluated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We observed that H2 treatment significantly prevented cognitive deficits, oxidative stress, the accumulation of toxic metabolites, and the increase in inflammatory markers in 5xFAD mice. These results suggest that H2 therapy can mitigate toxic metabolites in the astrocytic urea cycle, thereby reducing neurodegeneration and memory loss in AD.

Study details

Article type

Original Research

Disease / injury model

Alzheimer’s disease (5xFAD mouse model, AβO-induced astrocytes)

Duration

60 days

Dose-dependent effect

No

Outcome

Positive

Findings

Hydrogen gas (3% H2) inhalation for 60 days in 5xFAD mice significantly improved memory and learning, reduced oxidative stress, decreased accumulation of toxic metabolites (H2O2, ammonia, GABA), and lowered inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6), suggesting neuroprotection and mitigation of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease models.