S100A8 knockdown activates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to inhibit microglial autophagy and improve cognitive impairment mediated by chronic sleep deprivation

Cognitive dysfunction is one of the major symptoms of chronic sleep deprivation (CSD). Abnormal autophagy and apoptosis are thought to be important mechanisms. S100 Calcium Binding Protein A8 (S100A8) plays a key role in autophagy and apoptosis of microglia. This study investigated whether S100A8 knockdown can effectively inhibit aberrant autophagy in microglia and improve cognitive function by activating the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway under CSD conditions.