Neuroprotective peptides prevent some alcohol-induced alteration in gamma-aminobutyric acid A-beta3, which plays a role in cleft lip and palate and learning in fetal alcohol syndrome

The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders-An Overview of Experimental Models, Therapeutic Strategies, and Future Research Directions

Since the establishment of a clear link between maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and certain birth defects, the research into the treatment of FASD has become increasingly sophisticated. The field has begun to explore the possibility of intervening at different levels, and animal studies have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease, forming the basis for implementing potential therapies with increasingly precise mechanisms. The recent reports suggest that compounds that reduce the severity of neurodevelopmental deficits, including glial cell function and myelination, and/or target oxidative stress and inflammation may be effective in treating FASD. Our goal in writing this article was to analyze and synthesize current experimental therapeutic interventions for FASD, elucidating their potential mechanisms of action, translational relevance, and implications for clinical application. This review exclusively focuses on animal models and the interventions used in these models to outline the current direction of research. We conclude that given the complexity of the underlying mechanisms, a multifactorial approach combining nutritional supplementation, pharmacotherapy, and behavioral techniques tailored to the stage and severity of the disease may be a promising avenue for further research in humans.

GAD1-mediated GABA elicits aggressive characteristics of human oral cancer cells

Studies suggest that the expression of glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and GABA receptors are involved in tumor progression. However, the underlying mechanisms of high expression and potential functions of GAD1 and GABA in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are not known. In this study, we found that the expressions of GAD1 and GABA were considerably increased in OSCC samples, which were closely associated with clinical stage and lymph node metastasis. The knockdown of GAD1 expression significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of OSCC cells by reducing the expression of GABA-mediated GABAB receptors, which could be reversed by exogenous GABA, but did not cause excessive OSCC cell proliferation. And GABA secreted by OSCC cells promoted M2 macrophage polarization for inhibiting anti-tumor immunity by activating GABBR1/ERK/Ca2+. In addition, GABA/GABABR promoted the proliferation and progression of OSCC xenograft tumor. Altogether, our results showed that GAD1 synthetized GABA to promote the malignant progression of OSCC and limits the anti-tumor immunity of macrophages, thereby targeting GABA can be a novel strategy for treating OSCC.

NAP reduces murine microvascular endothelial cells proliferation induced by hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia has been identified as a risk factor responsible for micro- and macrovascular complications in diabetes. NAP (Davunetide) is a peptide whose neuroprotective actions are widely demonstrated, although its biological role on endothelial dysfunctions induced by hyperglycemia remains uninvestigated. In the present study we hypothesized that NAP could play a protective role on hyperglycemia-induced endothelial cell proliferation. To this end we investigated the effects of NAP on an in vitro model of murine microvascular endothelial cells grown in high glucose for 7 days. The MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and cyclin D1 protein expression analysis revealed that NAP treatment significantly reduces viability and proliferation of the cells. Hyperglycemia induced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and/or phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathways in a time-dependent manner. NAP treatment reduced the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT in cells grown in high glucose. These evidences suggest that NAP might be effective in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction induced by hyperglycemia.

Davunetide (NAP) protects the retina against early diabetic injury by reducing apoptotic death

Davunetide (NAP) is an eight amino acid peptide that has been shown to provide potent neuroprotection. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of NAP in diabetic retinopathy using an in vivo streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic model. A single intraocular injection of NAP (100 μg/mL) or vehicle was administered 1 week after STZ injection. Three weeks after diabetes induction, we assessed the retinal expression and distribution of apoptosis markers, cleaved caspase-3, and Bcl2, by Western blot and immunofluorescent analysis. Furthermore, we evaluated the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) and/or phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt pathways by measuring the protein levels of p-ERK and p-AKT with or without NAP treatment. Results demonstrated that NAP treatment reduced apoptotic event in diabetic retina, and it restored cleaved caspase-3 expression levels in the retina of STZ-injected rats as well as the decreased Bcl2. NAP treatment improved cellular survival through the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. Taken together, these findings suggested that NAP might be useful to treat retinal degenerative diseases.

NAP prevents acute cerebral oxidative stress and protects against long-term brain injury and cognitive impairment in a model of neonatal hypoxia-ischemia

Hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is a common cause of neonatal brain damage with lifelong morbidities in which current therapies are limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of neuropeptide NAP (NAPVSIPQ) on early cerebral oxidative stress, long-term neurological function and brain injury after neonatal HI. Seven-day-old rat pups were subjected to an HI model by applying a unilateral carotid artery occlusion and systemic hypoxia. The animals were randomly assigned to groups receiving an intraperitoneal injection of NAP (3 μg/g) or vehicle immediately (0 h) and 24 h after HI. Brain DNA damage, lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathione (GSH) content were determined 24 h after the last NAP injection. Cognitive impairment was assessed on postnatal day 60 using the spatial version of the Morris water maze learning task. Next, the animals were euthanized to assess the cerebral hemispheric volume using the Cavalieri principle associated with the counting point method. We observed that NAP prevented the acute HI-induced DNA and lipid membrane damage and also recovered the GSH levels in the injured hemisphere of the HI rat pups. Further, NAP was able to prevent impairments in learning and long-term spatial memory and to significantly reduce brain damage up to 7 weeks following the neonatal HI injury. Our findings demonstrate that NAP confers potent neuroprotection from acute brain oxidative stress, long-term cognitive impairment and brain lesions induced by neonatal HI through, at least in part, the modulation of the glutathione-mediated antioxidant system.

Anthocyanins: are they beneficial in treating ethanol neurotoxicity?

Heavy alcohol exposure produces profound damage to the developing central nervous system (CNS) as well as the adult brain. Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) have a variety of cognitive, behavioral, and neurological impairments. FASD currently represents the leading cause of mental retardation. Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) and neurodegeneration in the adult brain. Although the cellular/molecular mechanism underlying ethanol's neurotoxicity has not been fully understood, it is generally believed that oxidative stress plays an important role. Identification of neuroprotective agents that can ameliorate ethanol neurotoxicity is an important step for developing preventive/therapeutic strategies. Targeting ethanol-induced oxidative stress using natural antioxidants is an attractive approach. Anthocyanins, a large subgroup of flavonoids present in many vegetables and fruits, are safe and potent antioxidants. They exhibit diverse potential health benefits including cardioprotection, anti-atherosclerotic activity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammation properties. Anthocyanins can cross the blood-brain barrier and distribute in the CNS. Recent studies indicate that anthocyanins represent novel neuroprotective agents and may be beneficial in ameliorating ethanol neurotoxicity. In this review, we discuss the evidence and potential of anthocyanins in alleviating ethanol-induced damage to the CNS. Furthermore, we discuss possible underlying mechanisms as well as future research approaches necessary to establish the therapeutic role of anthocyanins.

Understanding the mechanism of learning enhancement: NMDA and GABA receptor expression

OBJECTIVE

The administration of neurotrophic peptides NAPVSIPQ (NAP) + SALLRSIPA (SAL) to aged mice resulted in significant learning enhancement. N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors are fundamental for learning because they are the major modulators of the long-term potentiation, the electrophysiologic mechanism for learning. Also, these receptors have been shown to be involved in NAP + SAL prevention of learning deficit in a mouse model for fetal alcohol syndrome, when administered prenatally during development. Our objective was to test whether NMDA and GABA receptors contribute to the learning enhancement that is induced by the peptides after adult administration.

STUDY DESIGN

Aged (14.5 months) male mice were treated for 10 consecutive days with placebo or D-NAP + D-SAL (20 microg, by gavage). At the end of the treatment, brains were harvested. Calibrator-normalized relative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed with primers for GABA-(A)beta3, GABA-(A)alpha5, and the NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B, with GAPDH standardization. Statistical analysis included analysis of variance, with a probability value that was considered significant at <.05.

RESULTS

Five control brains and 6 brains from animals that were treated with NAP + SAL were collected. There was no difference in GABA-(A)beta3, GABA-(A)alpha5, NR2A, and NR2B subunits after adult administration of NAP + SAL, as compared with the controls (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

Postnatal treatment with NAP + SAL induced learning enhancement in aged mice with a mechanism that does not involve alteration in NMDA and GABA receptor expression. Thus, the mechanism of learning enhancement might be different for a developing fetus than an adult or in the absence of a perturbing agent.