Over-Expression of TSPO in the Hippocampal CA1 Area Alleviates Cognitive Dysfunction Caused by Lipopolysaccharide in Mice

The study demonstrated that over-expression of the translocator protein 18 kDa (TSPO) in the hippocampal CA1 area significantly alleviated cognitive dysfunction in mice caused by systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is often used to mimic the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease. This protective effect was likely due to increased synthesis of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone. The research utilized a model of neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction, and finasteride was used to block allopregnanolone production to test the role of steroidogenesis in TSPO's neuroprotective effects. The findings suggested that TSPO could be a potential target for therapeutic strategies against cognitive impairments associated with neuroinflammation.