Copper biodistribution after acute systemic administration of copper gluconate to rats

The neuroprotective effect of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid in traumatic brain injury by inhibiting copper-mediated neuronal pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

10‑hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), the major fatty acid in royal jelly, exhibits antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, suggesting its potential therapeutic benefits for traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI induces significant neurological deficits through cell death, including pyroptosis. Although the role of copper in cell death and TBI has been recognized, the specific mechanisms by which 10-HDA facilitates brain injury recovery remain poorly understood, highlighting a critical need for further investigation.

METHODS

All animals were randomly assigned to undergo controlled cortical impact (CCI) to establish a TBI mouse model. 10-HDA was administered intragastric immediately after TBI. The positive control was a copper ion chelator, Tetrathiomolybdate (TTM). The water content of brain tissue, the level of copper ion in serum and the cortex were measured. Brain histological changes were detected with Evans blue staining, FJB staining, and Nissl staining. The wire-grip test, bean balance test, open field test, novel object recognition test, and Morris water maze were used to assess motor function, learning and memory, anxiety-like behavior, and cognitive ability in TBI mice treated with 10-HDA. Western blot and immunohistochemical analysis were used to detect the expression of pyroptosis related proteins and copper homeostasis related proteins in the brain tissues of each group.

RESULTS

10-HDA reduces the expression level of pyroptosis related proteins in cortical tissues, and improves the motor dysfunction, cognitive and emotional dysfunction in post-traumatic mice. The copper accumulation in the brain after TBI does not induce cuproptosis; instead, it results from an imbalance in copper homeostasis. Moreover, it has been proved that 10-HDA can regulate the expression of copper transport-related proteins, maintain copper homeostasis in brain, and thus reduce neuronal pyroptosis after TBI. At the same time, we explored the specific mechanism of its neuroprotective function by mediating the expression of ATP7A to maintain copper homeostasis, and then inhibit the pyroptosis of neurons.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of 10-HDA in TBI and uncovered a novel molecular mechanism, showing that 10-HDA reduces copper-mediated neuronal pyroptosis by regulating ATP7A expression rather than cuproptosis.

Copper release by MOF-74(Cu): a novel pharmacological alternative to diseases with deficiency of a vital oligoelement

Copper deficiency can trigger various diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD) and even compromise the development of living beings, as manifested in Menkes disease (MS). Thus, the regulated administration (controlled release) of copper represents an alternative to reduce neuronal deterioration and prevent disease progression. Therefore, we present, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental in vitro investigation for the kinetics of copper release from MOF-74(Cu) and its distribution in vivo after oral administration in male Wistar rats. Taking advantage of the abundance and high periodicity of copper within the crystalline-nanostructured metal-organic framework material (MOF-74(Cu)), it was possible to control the release of copper due to the partial degradation of the material. Thus, we simultaneously corroborated a low accumulation of copper in the liver (the main detoxification organ) and a slight increase of copper in the brain (striatum and midbrain), demonstrating that MOF-74(Cu) is a promising pharmacological alternative (controlled copper source) to these diseases.

Antiviral properties of copper and its alloys to inactivate covid-19 virus: a review

Copper (Cu) and its alloys are prospective materials in fighting covid-19 virus and several microbial pandemics, due to its excellent antiviral as well as antimicrobial properties. Even though many studies have proved that copper and its alloys exhibit antiviral properties, this research arena requires further research attention. Several studies conducted on copper and its alloys have proven that copper-based alloys possess excellent potential in controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Moreover, recent studies indicate that these alloys can effectively inactivate the covid-19 virus. In view of this, the present article reviews the importance of copper and its alloys in reducing the spread and infection of covid-19, which is a global pandemic. The electronic databases such as ScienceDirect, Web of Science and PubMed were searched for identifying relevant studies in the present review article. The review starts with a brief description on the history of copper usage in medicine followed by the effect of copper content in human body and antiviral mechanisms of copper against covid-19. The subsequent sections describe the distinctive copper based material systems such as alloys, nanomaterials and coating technologies in combating the spread of covid-19. Overall, copper based materials can be propitiously used as part of preventive and therapeutic strategies in the fight against covid-19 virus.