1
|
Ullah I, Zhao L, Uddin S, Zhou Y, Wang X, Li H. Nicotine-mediated therapy for Parkinson's disease in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1358141. [PMID: 38813528 PMCID: PMC11135287 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1358141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease resultant in the degeneration of Dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-synuclein in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The synthetic therapeutics for Parkinson's disease have moderate symptomatic benefits but cannot prevent or delay disease progression. In this study, nicotine was employed by using transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans Parkinson's disease models to minimize the Parkinson's disease symptoms. The results showed that the nicotine at 100, 150, and 200 μM doses reduced degeneration of Dopaminergic neurons caused by 6-hydroxydopamine (14, 33, and 40%), lowered the aggregative toxicity of α-synuclein by 53, 56, and 78%, respectively. The reduction in food-sensing behavioral disabilities of BZ555 was observed to be 18, 49, and 86%, respectively, with nicotine concentrations of 100 μM, 150 μM, and 200 μM. Additionally, nicotine was found to enhance Daf-16 nuclear translocation by 14, 31, and 49%, and dose-dependently increased SOD-3 expression by 10, 19, and 23%. In summary, the nicotine might a promising therapy option for Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inam Ullah
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Longhe Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shahab Uddin
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yangtao Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Center for Parkinson's Disease, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Li
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sillapachaiyaporn C, Wongwan C, Mongkolpobsin K, Nilkhet S, Isidoro C, Chuchawankul S, Tencomnao T. Ergosterol promotes neurite outgrowth, inhibits amyloid-beta synthesis, and extends longevity: In vitro neuroblastoma and in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans evidence. Life Sci 2024; 345:122606. [PMID: 38574884 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with aging, is characterized by amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in the hippocampus. Ergosterol, a mushroom sterol, exhibits neuroprotective activities; however, the underlying mechanisms of ergosterol in promoting neurite outgrowth and preventing Aβ-associated aging have never been investigated. We aim to determine the beneficial activities of ergosterol in neuronal cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). MATERIALS AND METHODS The neuritogenesis and molecular mechanisms of ergosterol were investigated in wild-type and Aβ precursor protein (APP)-overexpressing Neuro2a cells. The anti-amyloidosis properties of ergosterol were determined by evaluating in vitro Aβ production and the potential inhibition of Aβ-producing enzymes. Additionally, AD-associated transgenic C. elegans was utilized to investigate the in vivo attenuating effects of ergosterol. KEY FINDINGS Ergosterol promoted neurite outgrowth in Neuro2a cells through the upregulation of the transmembrane protein Teneurin-4 (Ten-4) mRNA and protein expressions, phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), activity of cAMP response element (CRE), and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43). Furthermore, ergosterol enhanced neurite outgrowth in transgenic Neuro2A cells overexpressing either the wild-type APP (Neuro2a-APPwt) or the Swedish mutant APP (Neuro2a-APPswe) through the Ten-4/ERK/CREB/GAP-43 signaling pathway. Interestingly, ergosterol inhibited Aβ synthesis in Neuro2a-APPwt cells. In silico analysis indicated that ergosterol can interact with the catalytic sites of β- and γ-secretases. In Aβ-overexpressing C. elegans, ergosterol decreased Aβ accumulation, increased chemotaxis behavior, and prolonged lifespan. SIGNIFICANCE Ergosterol is a potential candidate compound that might benefit AD patients by promoting neurite outgrowth, inhibiting Aβ synthesis, and enhancing longevity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chanin Sillapachaiyaporn
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Chamaiphorn Wongwan
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Kuljira Mongkolpobsin
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Immunomodulation of Natural Products Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sunita Nilkhet
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Immunomodulation of Natural Products Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Ciro Isidoro
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont 'Amedeo Avogadro', Novara 28100, Italy
| | - Siriporn Chuchawankul
- Department of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Immunomodulation of Natural Products Research Unit, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tewin Tencomnao
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Anti-ageing Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wu Y, Chen Y, Yu X, Zhang M, Li Z. Towards Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:443. [PMID: 38203614 PMCID: PMC10778690 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The elevated occurrence of debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), demands urgent disease-modifying therapeutics. Owing to the evolutionarily conserved molecular signalling pathways with mammalian species and facile genetic manipulation, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) emerges as a powerful and manipulative model system for mechanistic insights into neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we review several representative C. elegans models established for five common neurodegenerative diseases, which closely simulate disease phenotypes specifically in the gain-of-function aspect. We exemplify applications of high-throughput genetic and drug screenings to illustrate the potential of C. elegans to probe novel therapeutic targets. This review highlights the utility of C. elegans as a comprehensive and versatile platform for the dissection of neurodegenerative diseases at the molecular level.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhaoyu Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (Y.W.); (Y.C.); (X.Y.); (M.Z.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kumar S, Akhila PV, Suchiang K. Hesperidin ameliorates Amyloid-β toxicity and enhances oxidative stress resistance and lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through acr-16 mediated activation of the autophagy pathway. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 209:366-380. [PMID: 37913913 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.10.408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease in aged populations. Aberrant amyloid-beta accumulation is a common pathological feature in AD patients. Dysfunction of autophagy and impairment of α7nAChR functioning are associated with enhanced amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation in AD patients. Hesperidin, a flavone glycoside found primarily in citrus species, is known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hesperidin as an antiaging and anti-Aβ phytochemical were unclear. In this study, we found that hesperidin upregulates the acr-16 expression level in C. elegans as evidenced by increased GFP-tagged ACR-16 and GFP-tagged pmyo-3:ACR-16 expression in muscle and ventral nerve cord. Further, hesperidin upregulates the autophagy genes in wild-type N2, evident by increased GFP-tagged LGG-1 foci. However, hesperidin failed to upregulate the autophagy genes level in acr-16 mutant worms that suggests autophagy activation is mediated through acr-16. In addition, hesperidin showed antiaging and anti-oxidative effects, as evidenced by positive changes in different markers necessary for health span and lifespan. Additionally, hesperidin could upregulate acr-16 and autophagy genes (lgg-1 & bec-1) and ameliorates Aβ-induced toxicity as observed with reduce ROS accumulation, paralysis rate, and enhanced lifespan even in worms AD model CL4176 and CL2006 strain. Our finding suggests that hesperidin significantly enhances oxidative stress resistance, prolongs the lifespan, and protects against Aβ-induced toxicity in C. elegans. Thus, acr-16 mediated autophagy and antioxidation is associated with anti-aging and anti-Aβ effect of hesperidin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India.
| | - P V Akhila
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, 605014, India
| | - Kitlangki Suchiang
- Department of Biochemistry, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, Meghalaya, 793022, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sánchez-Martínez JD, Cifuentes A, Valdés A. Omics approaches to investigate the neuroprotective capacity of a Citrus sinensis (sweet orange) extract in a Caenorhabditis elegans Alzheimer's model. Food Res Int 2023; 172:113128. [PMID: 37689893 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2023.113128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Citrus sinensis by-products are a promising source of neuroprotective molecules. In this study, a pressurized liquid extract of Citrus by-products (PLE100) has been extensively characterized, and its neuroprotective capacity tested in the Caenorhabditis elegans strain CL4176, a validated in vivo model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More than 450 compounds have been annotated in the extract, being triacylglycerols (TGs), stigmastanes, fatty acids (FAs) and carbohydrates the most abundant. The results demonstrate that worms PLE100-treated are significantly protected in a dose-dependent manner against the Aβ-peptide paralysis toxicity. The RNA-Seq data showed an alteration of 294 genes mainly related to the stress response defense along with genes involved in the lipid transport and metabolism. Moreover, the comprehensive metabolomics study allowed the identification of 818 intracellular metabolites, of which 54 were significantly altered (mainly lipids). The integration of these and previous results provides with new evidences of the protection mechanisms of this promising extract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandro Cifuentes
- Foodomics Laboratory, CIAL, CSIC-UAM, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Valdés
- Foodomics Laboratory, CIAL, CSIC-UAM, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|