TFEB agonist clomiphene citrate activates the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and ameliorates Alzheimer's disease symptoms in mice.

Autophagy is a conserved eukaryotic cellular clearance and recycling process through the lysosome-mediated degradation of damaged organelles and protein aggregates to maintain homeostasis. Impairment of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway is implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Transcription factor EB (TFEB) is a master regulator of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. Therefore, activating TFEB and autophagy provides a novel strategy for AD treatment. We previously described that clomiphene citrate (CC) promotes nuclear translocation of TFEB and increases autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. In this study, 7- and 3-month-old APP/PS1 mice were treated with TFEB agonist CC and assessed. The behavioral tests were performed using Morris water maze and open field test. Additional changes in amyloid-β pathology, autophagy, and inflammatory response were determined. We found that CC activated TFEB and the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in neuronal cells. Moreover, using mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, CC treatment promoted clearance of amyloid-β plaques and ameliorated cognitive function in both 7- and 3-month-old APP/PS1 mice. The CC-induced activation of TFEB occurs by promoting acetylation of TFEB for nuclear translocation. These findings provide a molecular mechanism for the TFEB-mediated activation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway by CC, which has the potential to be repurposed and applied in the treatment or prevention of AD.