Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) protects against Aβ toxicity via attenuating Aβ-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress

BACKGROUND: Extracellular accumulation of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) is one of pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and contributes to the neuronal loss. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-inducible neurotrophic factor. Many groups, including ours, have proved that MANF rescues neuronal loss in several neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and cerebral ischemia. However, whether MANF exerts its protective effect against Aβ neurotoxicity in AD remains unknown. METHODS: In the present study, the characteristic expressions of MANF in Aβ(1–42)-treated neuronal cells as well as in the brains of APP/PS1 transgenic mice were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining, qPCR, and Western blot. The effects of MANF overexpression, MANF knockdown, or recombination human MANF protein (rhMANF) on neuron viability, apoptosis, and the expression of ER stress-related proteins following Aβ(1–42) exposure were also investigated. RESULTS: The results showed the increased expressions of MANF, as well as ER stress markers immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), in the brains of the APP/PS1 transgenic mice and Aβ(1–42)-treated neuronal cells. MANF overexpression or rhMANF treatment partially protected against Aβ(1–42)-induced neuronal cell death, associated with marked decrease of cleaved caspase-3, whereas MANF knockdown with siRNA aggravated Aβ(1–42) cytotoxicity including caspase-3 activation. Further study demonstrated that the expressions of BiP, ATF6, phosphorylated-IRE1, XBP1s, phosphorylated-eIF2α, ATF4, and CHOP were significantly downregulated by MANF overexpression or rhMANF treatment in neuronal cells following Aβ(1–42) exposure, whereas knockdown of MANF has the opposite effect. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that MANF may exert neuroprotective effects against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity through attenuating ER stress, suggesting that an applicability of MANF as a therapeutic candidate for AD. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12974-019-1429-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.