Intranasal TAT-haFGF Improves Cognition and Amyloid-β Pathology in an AβPP/PS1 Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease.

Neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide causing cognitive function disabilities is one of the most characteristic pathological features in Alzheimer's disease (AD). A novel fusion protein, TAT-haFGF, was administrated to AβPP/PS1 transgenic mice by intravenous (IV) injection and intranasal (IN) delivery, respectively, for 5 weeks to compare the pharmacodynamics between the two routes of administration. Our results showed that IN administration of TAT-haFGF improved cognition and reduced Aβ plaques more significantly in AβPP/PS1 mice, when compared with IV injection. Our new findings suggest that TAT-haFGF might be a promising new therapy to attenuate AD pathological process.