Validation of Fucoxanthin from Microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum for the Detection of Amyloid Burden in Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease

The visualization of misfolded A beta peptides by using fluorescence chemical dyes is very important in Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis. Here, we describe the fluorescent substance, fucoxanthin, which detects A beta aggregates in the brain of AD transgenic mouse models. We found that fucoxanthin from the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum has fluorescent excitation and emission wavelengths without any interference for A beta interaction. Thus, we applied it to monitor A beta aggregation in AD transgenic mouse models. A beta plaques were visualized using fucoxanthin in the brain tissue of APP/PS1 and 5xFAD mice by histological staining with different staining methods. By comparing fucoxanthin-positive and thioflavin S-positive stained regions in the brains, we found that they are colocalized and that fucoxanthin can detect A beta aggregates. Our finding suggests that fucoxanthin from P. tricornutum can be a new A beta fluorescent imaging reagent in AD diagnosis.

Automated summary

The fluorescence chemical dye fucoxanthin is capable of detecting Aβ aggregates in the brain tissue of AD transgenic mouse models, making it a valuable tool for AD diagnosis. This study found that fucoxanthin from the microalgae P. tricornutum has specific excitation and emission wavelengths for detecting Aβ aggregates without interference. The colocalization of fucoxanthin-positive and thioflavin S-positive stained regions in the brain tissue confirms the potential of fucoxanthin as a new Aβ fluorescent imaging reagent in AD diagnosis.