# Anti-Inflammatory Peptide Prevents Aβ25–35-Induced Inflammation in Rats via Lipoxygenase Inhibition

## TL;DR

A peptide called YWCS reduces inflammation and improves cognitive function in rats with Alzheimer's-like symptoms by inhibiting lipoxygenase enzymes.

## Contribution

YWCS is shown to be a novel therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease by targeting LOX enzymes and improving cognitive and inflammatory markers.

## Key findings

- YWCS improved cognitive performance in multiple behavioral tests in AD rats.
- YWCS reduced the expression of LOX, Aβ, and p-Tau181 in the hippocampus of AD rats.
- Serum LOX levels in AD rats were significantly reduced after YWCS treatment.

## Abstract

Neuroinflammation, triggered by lipoxygenase (LOX), contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression. Overexpression of LOX-5 in patients with AD serum highlights its role. This study assessed the efficacy of the LOX-inhibitor-peptide YWCS in an AD rat model induced by Aβ25–35 injection. Cognitive tests, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and molecular analyses were conducted. YWCS treatment significantly improved cognitive function, as evidenced by improved performance in the open field, novel object recognition, elevated plus maze, and Morris water maze tests. MRI scans revealed hippocampal shrinkage in AD rats and no changes were observed from YWCS treatment. Molecular analysis revealed altered expression of LOX-5, LOX-12, Aβ, γ-secretase components, p-Tau181, Akt, p-Akt, and p53 in AD rats. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed increased expression of LOX, Aβ, and p-Tau181 in the hippocampus of AD rats, which was reduced by YWCS treatment. Serum LOX levels were elevated in AD rats and significantly decreased after YWCS treatment, aligning with previous findings in human AD patients and AD cell models. YWCS offered improvements in behavioral and inflammatory marker regulation and also prevented progression of the disease, as shown by MRI results. These results suggest that YWCS, by targeting LOX, has the potential to be a promising therapeutic agent for AD.