Allosteric Activation of GDH/TCA Pathway Reduces Pathological Build-Up and Promotes Neuronal Survival in an In Vitro Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Authors

Tiziano Serfilippi, Silvia Piccirillo, Alessandra Preziuso, Valentina Terenzi, Raffaella Ciancio, Simona Magi, Vincenzo Lariccia, Agnese Secondo

Published in

Biomolecules. Volume 16. Issue 5. Apr 30, 2026. Epub Apr 30, 2026.

Abstract

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a relevant hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing to the impaired metabolic homeostasis involved in neuronal loss and cognitive decline. In this study, we target the metabolic dysfunction occurring in AD through a novel pharmacological approach involving the modulation of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), which converts glutamate to α-ketoglutarate and supports the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In our experimental models (i.e., differentiated SH-SY5Y cells and primary rat cortical neurons exposed to glyceraldehyde and amyloid-beta peptide 1-42, respectively), the allosteric GDH activator 2-Aminobicyclo-(2,2,1)-heptane-2-carboxylic acid (BCH) increased mitochondrial ATP production, improved cellular bioenergetics, and reduced oxidative stress, ultimately promoting neuronal survival. Ionic dysfunctions in AD are linked to disrupted calcium homeostasis and organelle storing properties. In this context, GDH activation potentiated mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum calcium buffering capacity by enhancing store-operated calcium entry. Oxidative stress, largely driven by mitochondrial ROS overproduction, represents another major contributor to AD pathology. In our AD models BCH-mediated GDH activation reduced ROS formation and restored mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m). Importantly, these metabolic and ionic improvements were associated with decreased accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ_1-42) and phosphorylated tau (pTau), two key AD biomarkers. Overall, modulation of the GDH/TCA pathway represents a promising approach for restoring metabolic dysfunctions and counteracting oxidative stress and ionic dysregulation and therefore AD neurodegeneration.

PMID:
42194017
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 14 Sep 2026.

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