Metformin treatment reduces motor and neuropsychiatric phenotypes in the zQ175 mouse model of Huntington disease

Metformin's therapeutic potential in spinal cord injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis on locomotor recovery, neuropathic pain alleviation, and modulation of secondary injury mechanisms

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate metformin's efficacy in locomotion recovery, alleviating neuropathic pain, and modulating underlying molecular mechanisms in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) rodent models through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

We conducted a comprehensive literature search across Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to May 2024. We included studies that utilized rodent models of traumatic SCI treated with metformin versus untreated controls. Data on locomotor recovery, neuropathic pain, and molecular mechanisms related to secondary injury were extracted. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were synthesized as the pooled effect sizes.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies comprising 1,567 animals met the inclusion criteria. Metformin significantly enhanced locomotor function (SMD = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.74, 2.73, p < 0.001) and improved both mechanical allodynia (SMD = 1.18; 95% CI, 0.35 to 2.00; p = 0.005) and thermal hyperalgesia (SMD = 2.40; 95% CI, 1.65 to 3.16; p < 0.001). It reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, microglial activation, and astrogliosis and promotes myelination and autophagy flux via activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway. This resulted in decreased apoptosis and lesion size and increased tissue preservation and neuronal survival. Subgroup analyses indicated greater locomotor improvements when metformin was administered in the acute (< 3 days of injury) phase of the injury (meta-regression coefficient = 1.65; 95% CI, 0.37 to 2.93; p = 0.011).

CONCLUSION

Metformin shows significant therapeutic benefits for SCI in rodent models, promoting locomotor recovery and alleviating neuropathic pain. These results underscore its translational potential for clinical SCI management.

Unlocking the Potential of Vitamin D: A Comprehensive Exploration of Its Role in Neurological Health and Diseases

Vitamin D (VD), an indispensable micronutrient renowned for its pivotal role in bone health, is increasingly recognized as a frontline therapy for bone-related disorders owing to its involvement in maintaining calcium/phosphorus levels. Beyond these benefits, VD exhibits a modulatory impact on redox imbalance, inflammation, and anti-apoptotic pathways implicated in brain-related disorders. Recent findings reveal a notable decrease in VD and its receptor expression in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with brain diseases, indicating a positive association between VD levels and normal brain function. Moreover, emerging reports underscore VD's potential in mitigating the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, including memory and motor impairments, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuronal loss. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies elucidate VD's multifaceted neuroprotective mechanisms, effectively mitigating neuronal damage and ATP deprivation, thus reducing mortality and morbidity. This review comprehensively examines VD's diverse attributes, encompassing antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurogenic effects. It provides contemporary insights into VD's efficacious actions at appropriate doses and exposures across diverse neurological experimental models. Furthermore, the clinical relevance of VD in treating patients with neurological diseases is explored. Overall, this review contributes to the exploration of potential neuroprotective agents and holds promise for improving human health outcomes in the future.

Small molecule modulation of p75NTR engages the autophagy-lysosomal pathway and reduces huntingtin aggregates in cellular and mouse models of Huntington's disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene encoding a mutant huntingtin (mHtt) protein. mHtt aggregates within neurons causing degeneration primarily in the striatum. There is currently a need for disease-modifying treatments for HD. Many therapeutic studies have focused on lowering mHtt levels by reducing its production or enhancing its clearance. One way to clear mHtt aggregates is to promote autophagy, which is disrupted in HD. Our previous studies showed that the small molecule p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) ligand, LM11A-31, prevented HD-related neuropathologies and behavioral deficits in multiple HD mouse models. This study investigated whether modulating p75NTR with LM11A-31, would reduce mHtt aggregates via autophagic/lysosomal mechanisms in HD models. LM11A-31 decreased mHtt aggregates in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells expressing mHtt (exon 1 with 74 CAG repeats) and in the striatum of R6/2 and zQ175dn mouse models of HD. The LM11A-31 associated decrease in mHtt aggregates in vitro was accompanied by increased autophagic/lysosomal activity as indicated by altered levels of relevant markers including p62/SQSTM1 and the lysosomal protease, mature cathepsin D, and increased autophagy flux. In R6/2 and/or zQ175dn striatum, LM11A-31 increased AMPK activation, normalized p62/SQSTM1 and LC3II levels, and enhanced LAMP1 and decreased LC3B association with mHtt. Thus, LM11A-31 reduces mHtt aggregates and may do so via engaging autophagy/lysosomal systems. LM11A-31 has successfully completed a Phase 2a clinical trial for mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease and our results here strengthen its potential as a candidate for HD clinical testing.

Endothelial Dysfunction in Huntington's Disease: Pathophysiology and Therapeutic Implications

Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric symptoms. While traditionally viewed through the lens of neuronal dysfunction, emerging evidence highlights the critical role of endothelial dysfunction in HD pathogenesis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of endothelial dysfunction in HD, drawing on findings from both animal models and human studies. Key features of endothelial dysfunction in HD include impaired angiogenesis, altered cerebral blood flow, compromised neurovascular coupling and cerebrovascular reactivity, and increased blood-brain barrier permeability. Genetic factors such as the mutant huntingtin protein, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the adenosine A2A receptor (ADORA2A) interact to influence endothelial function in complex ways. Various therapeutic approaches targeting endothelial dysfunction, including antioxidants, nitric oxide enhancers, calcium channel blockers, statins, and metformin, have shown promise in preclinical HD models but face translational challenges, particularly regarding optimal timing of intervention and patient stratification. The implications of these findings suggest that reconceptualizing HD as a neurovascular disorder, rather than purely neuronal, could lead to more effective treatment strategies. Future research priorities should include: (1) developing validated vascular biomarkers for disease progression, (2) advancing neuroimaging techniques to monitor endothelial dysfunction in real-time. These directions will be crucial for bridging the current gap between preclinical promise and clinical success in vascular-targeted HD therapeutics.

Mechanism and Clinical Application Prospects of Mitochondrial DNA Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction is well recognized as a critical component of the complicated pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. This review investigates the influence of mitochondrial DNA single nucleotide polymorphisms on mitochondrial function, as well as their role in the onset and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the contemporary approaches to mitochondrial regulation in these disorders are discussed. Our objective is to uncover early diagnostic targets and formulate precision medicine strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, thereby offering new paths for preventing and treating these conditions.

Advances in Clinical Therapies for Huntington's Disease and the Promise of Multi-Targeted/Functional Drugs Based on Clinicaltrials.gov

Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a triad of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric problems. Caused by CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene (HTT), the disease involves a complex network of pathogenic mechanisms, including synaptic dysfunction, impaired autophagy, neuroinflammation, oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and extrasynaptic excitotoxicity. Although current therapies targeting the pathogenesis of HD primarily aim to reduce mHTT levels by targeting HTT DNA, RNA, or proteins, these treatments only ameliorate downstream pathogenic effects. While gene therapies, such as antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNAs and gene editing, have emerged in the field of HD treatment, their safety and efficacy are still under debate. Therefore, pharmacological therapy remains the most promising breakthrough, especially multi-target/functional drugs, which have diverse pharmacological effects. This review summarizes the latest progress in HD drug development based on clinicaltrials.gov search results (Search strategy: key word "Huntington's disease" in HD clinical investigational drugs registered as of December 31, 2023), and highlights the key role of multi-target/functional drugs in HD treatment strategies.

Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Supplementation in a Triglyceride Form Prevents from Polyglutamine-Induced Dysfunctions in Caenorhabditis elegans

A common hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases is the accumulation of polypeptide aggregates in neurons. Despite the primary cause of these diseases being inherently genetic, their development can be delayed with proper preventive treatments. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 LCPUFA) are promising bioactive nutrients that are beneficial for brain health. In this study, the impact of an oil rich in a structured form of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) triglyceride (TG) was assessed in a Caenorhabditis elegans model expressing long poly-glutamine (polyQ) chains, which mimics the symptomatology of polyQ-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease (HD), among others. The lifespan, the motility, the number of polyQ aggregates, the oxidative stress resistance, and the cognitive performance associated with sensitive stimuli was measured in mutant nematodes with polyQ aggregates. Overall, DHA-TG at 0.5 µM improved the lifespan, the motility, the oxidative stress resistance, and the cognitive performance of the nematodes, emphasizing the protection against serotonergic synapse dysfunction. Furthermore, the treatment reduced the polyQ aggregates in the nematodes. The data described herein shed light on the connection between DHA and the cognitive performance in neurodegenerative diseases and demonstrated the potential of DHA-TG as nutritional co-adjuvant to prevent the development of polyQ-associated dysfunctions.

Erucin, a Natural Isothiocyanate, Prevents Polyglutamine-Induced Toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans via aak-2/AMPK and daf-16/FOXO Signaling

Several neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Huntington's disease, six of the spinocerebellar ataxias, dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy, and spinobulbar muscular atrophy, are caused by abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts. Natural compounds capable of alleviating polyQ-induced toxicity are currently of great interest. In this work, we investigated the modulatory effect against polyQ neurotoxic aggregates exerted by erucin (ERN), an isothiocyanate naturally present in its precursor glucoerucin in rocket salad leaves and in its oxidized form, sulforaphane (SFN), in broccoli. Using C. elegans models expressing polyQ in different tissues, we demonstrated that ERN protects against polyQ-induced toxicity and that its action depends on the catalytic subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase (aak-2/AMPKα2) and, downstream in this pathway, on the daf-16/FOXO transcription factor, since nematodes deficient in aak-2/AMPKα2 and daf-16 did not respond to the treatment, respectively. Although triggered by a different source of neurotoxicity than polyQ diseases, i.e., by α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates, Parkinson's disease (PD) was also considered in our study. Our results showed that ERN reduces α-syn aggregates and slightly improves the motility of worms. Therefore, further preclinical studies in mouse models of protein aggregation are justified and could provide insights into testing whether ERN could be a potential neuroprotective compound in humans.

Beneficial effects of metformin treatment on memory impairment

Memory issues are a prevalent symptom in different neurodegenerative diseases and can also manifest in certain psychiatric conditions. Despite limited medications approved for treating memory problems, research suggests a lack of sufficient options in the market. Studies indicate that a significant percentage of elderly individuals experience various forms of memory disorders. Metformin, commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, has shown neuroprotective properties through diverse mechanisms. This study explores the potential of metformin in addressing memory impairments. The current research gathered its data by conducting an extensive search across electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Previous research suggests that metformin enhances brain cell survival and memory function in both animal and clinical models by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death while increasing beneficial neurotrophic factors. The findings of the research revealed that metformin is an effective medication for enhancing various types of memory problems in numerous studies. Given the rising incidence of memory disorders, it is plausible to utilize metformin, which is an affordable and accessible drug. It is often recommended as a treatment to boost memory.

Indole-Based Compounds in the Development of Anti-Neurodegenerative Agents

Neurodegeneration is a gradual decay process leading to the depletion of neurons in both the central and peripheral nervous systems, ultimately resulting in cognitive dysfunctions and the deterioration of brain functions, alongside a decline in motor skills and behavioral capabilities. Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) impose a substantial socio-economic strain on society, aggravated by the advancing age of the world population and the absence of effective remedies, predicting a negative future. In this context, the urgency of discovering viable therapies is critical and, despite significant efforts by medicinal chemists in developing potential drug candidates and exploring various small molecules as therapeutics, regrettably, a truly effective treatment is yet to be found. Nitrogen heterocyclic compounds, and particularly those containing the indole nucleus, which has emerged as privileged scaffold, have attracted particular attention for a variety of pharmacological applications. This review analyzes the rational design strategy adopted by different research groups for the development of anti-neurodegenerative indole-based compounds which have the potential to modulate various molecular targets involved in NDs, with reference to the most recent advances between 2018 and 2023.

Polyglutamine disorders: Pathogenesis and potential drug interventions

Polyglutamine/poly(Q) diseases are a group nine hereditary neurodegenerative disorders caused due to abnormally expanded stretches of CAG trinucleotide in functionally distinct genes. All human poly(Q) diseases are characterized by the formation of microscopically discernable poly(Q) positive aggregates, the inclusion bodies. These toxic inclusion bodies are responsible for the impairment of several cellular pathways such as autophagy, transcription, cell death, etc., that culminate in disease manifestation. Although, these diseases remain largely without treatment, extensive research has generated mounting evidences that various events of poly(Q) pathogenesis can be developed as potential drug targets. The present review article briefly discusses the key events of disease pathogenesis, model system-based investigations that support the development of effective therapeutic interventions against pathogenesis of human poly(Q) disorders, and a comprehensive list of pharmacological and bioactive compounds that have been experimentally shown to alleviate poly(Q)-mediated neurotoxicity. Interestingly, due to the common cause of pathogenesis, all poly(Q) diseases share etiology, thus, findings from one disease can be potentially extrapolated to other poly(Q) diseases as well.

Promising use of metformin in treating neurological disorders: biomarker-guided therapies

Neurological disorders are a diverse group of conditions that affect the nervous system and include neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease), cerebrovascular conditions (stroke), and neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorder). Although they affect millions of individuals around the world, only a limited number of effective treatment options are available today. Since most neurological disorders express mitochondria-related metabolic perturbations, metformin, a biguanide type II antidiabetic drug, has attracted a lot of attention to be repurposed to treat neurological disorders by correcting their perturbed energy metabolism. However, controversial research emerges regarding the beneficial/detrimental effects of metformin on these neurological disorders. Given that most neurological disorders have complex etiology in their pathophysiology and are influenced by various risk factors such as aging, lifestyle, genetics, and environment, it is important to identify perturbed molecular functions that can be targeted by metformin in these neurological disorders. These molecules can then be used as biomarkers to stratify subpopulations of patients who show distinct molecular/pathological properties and can respond to metformin treatment, ultimately developing targeted therapy. In this review, we will discuss mitochondria-related metabolic perturbations and impaired molecular pathways in these neurological disorders and how these can be used as biomarkers to guide metformin-responsive treatment for the targeted therapy to treat neurological disorders.

Metformin Induces MeCP2 in the Hippocampus of Male Mice with Sex-Specific and Brain-Region-Dependent Molecular Impact

Rett Syndrome (RTT) is a progressive X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder with no cure. RTT patients show disease-associated symptoms within 18 months of age that include developmental regression, progressive loss of useful hand movements, and breathing difficulties, along with neurological impairments, seizures, tremor, and mental disability. Rett Syndrome is also associated with metabolic abnormalities, and the anti-diabetic drug metformin is suggested to be a potential drug of choice with low or no side-effects. Previously, we showed that in vitro exposure of metformin in a human brain cell line induces MECP2E1 transcripts, the dominant isoform of the MECP2 gene in the brain, mutations in which causes RTT. Here, we report the molecular impact of metformin in mice. Protein analysis of specific brain regions in the male and female mice by immunoblotting indicated that metformin induces MeCP2 in the hippocampus, in a sex-dependent manner. Additional experiments confirm that the regulatory role of metformin on the MeCP2 target "BDNF" is brain region-dependent and sex-specific. Measurement of the ribosomal protein S6 (in both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated forms) confirms the sex-dependent role of metformin in the liver. Our results can help foster a better understanding of the molecular impact of metformin in different brain regions of male and female adult mice, while providing some insight towards its potential in therapeutic strategies for the treatment of Rett Syndrome.

Huntington's Disease: Complex Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies

Huntington's disease (HD) arises from the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT), resulting in the production of the mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with a polyglutamine stretch in its N-terminus. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying HD are complex and not yet fully elucidated. However, mHTT forms aggregates and accumulates abnormally in neuronal nuclei and processes, leading to disruptions in multiple cellular functions. Although there is currently no effective curative treatment for HD, significant progress has been made in developing various therapeutic strategies to treat HD. In addition to drugs targeting the neuronal toxicity of mHTT, gene therapy approaches that aim to reduce the expression of the mutant HTT gene hold great promise for effective HD therapy. This review provides an overview of current HD treatments, discusses different therapeutic strategies, and aims to facilitate future therapeutic advancements in the field.

TYROBP/DAP12 knockout in Huntington's disease Q175 mice cell-autonomously decreases microglial expression of disease-associated genes and non-cell-autonomously mitigates astrogliosis and motor deterioration

INTRODUCTION

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat in the Huntingtin gene (HTT). Immune activation is abundant in the striatum of HD patients. Detection of active microglia at presymptomatic stages suggests that microgliosis is a key early driver of neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Recent studies showed that deletion of Tyrobp, a microglial protein, ameliorates neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease amyloidopathy and tauopathy mouse models while decreasing components of the complement subnetwork.

OBJECTIVE

While TYROBP/DAP12-mediated microglial activation is detrimental for some diseases such as peripheral nerve injury, it is beneficial for other diseases. We sought to determine whether the TYROBP network is implicated in HD and whether Tyrobp deletion impacts HD striatal function and transcriptomics.

METHODS

To test the hypothesis that Tyrobp deficiency would be beneficial in an HD model, we placed the Q175 HD mouse model on a Tyrobp-null background. We characterized these mice with a combination of behavioral testing, immunohistochemistry, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling. Further, we evaluated the gene signature in isolated Q175 striatal microglia, with and without Tyrobp.

RESULTS

Comprehensive analysis of publicly available human HD transcriptomic data revealed that the TYROBP network is overactivated in the HD putamen. The Q175 mice showed morphologic microglial activation, reduced levels of post-synaptic density-95 protein and motor deficits at 6 and 9 months of age, all of which were ameliorated on the Tyrobp-null background. Gene expression analysis revealed that lack of Tyrobp in the Q175 model does not prevent the decrease in the expression of striatal neuronal genes but reduces pro-inflammatory pathways that are specifically active in HD human brain, including genes identified as detrimental in neurodegenerative diseases, e.g. C1q and members of the Ccr5 signaling pathway. Integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data revealed that astrogliosis and complement system pathway were reduced after Tyrobp deletion, which was further validated by immunofluorescence analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data provide molecular and functional support demonstrating that Tyrobp deletion prevents many of the abnormalities in the HD Q175 mouse model, suggesting that the Tyrobp pathway is a potential therapeutic candidate for Huntington's disease.

Metformin ameliorates mitochondrial damage induced by C9orf72 poly(GR) via upregulating AKT phosphorylation

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating neurodegenerative diseases with no effective cure. GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of both ALS and FTD. A key pathological feature of C9orf72 related ALS/FTD is the presence of abnormal dipeptide repeat proteins translated from GGGGCC repeat expansion, including poly Glycine-Arginine (GR). In this study, we observed that (GR)50 conferred significant mitochondria damage and cytotoxicity. Metformin, the most widely used clinical drug, successfully relieved (GR)50 induced mitochondrial damage and inhibited (GR)50 related cytotoxicity. Further research revealed metformin effectively restored mitochondrial function by upregulating AKT phosphorylation in (GR)50 expressed cells. Taken together, our results indicated restoring mitochondrial function with metformin may be a rational therapeutic strategy to reduce poly(GR) toxicity in C9orf72 ALS/FTD patients.

Exercise attenuates polyglutamine-mediated neuromuscular degeneration in a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

BACKGROUND

Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a hereditary neuromuscular disorder caused by the expansion of trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats, which encodes a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Recent evidence suggests that, in addition to motor neuron degeneration, defective skeletal muscles are also the primary contributors to the pathogenesis in SBMA. While benefits of physical exercise have been suggested in SBMA, underlying mechanism remains elusive.

METHODS

We investigated the effect of running exercise in a transgenic mouse model of SBMA carrying human AR with 97 expanded CAGs (AR97Q). We assigned AR97Q mice to exercise and sedentary control groups, and mice in the exercise group received 1-h forced running wheel (5 m/min) 5 days a week for 4 weeks during the early stage of the disease. Motor function (grip strength and rotarod performance) and survival of each group were analysed, and histopathological and biological features in skeletal muscles and motor neurons were evaluated.

RESULTS

AR97Q mice in the exercise group showed improvement in motor function (~40% and ~50% increase in grip strength and rotarod performance, respectively, P < 0.05) and survival (median survival 23.6 vs. 16.7 weeks, P < 0.05) with amelioration of neuronal and muscular histopathology (~1.4-fold and ~2.8-fold increase in motor neuron and muscle fibre size, respectively, P < 0.001) compared to those in the sedentary group. Nuclear accumulation of polyQ-expanded AR in skeletal muscles and motor neurons was suppressed in the mice with exercise compared to the sedentary mice (~50% and ~30% reduction in 1C2-positive cells in skeletal muscles and motor neurons, respectively, P < 0.05). We found that the exercise activated 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signalling and inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin pathway that regulates protein synthesis in skeletal muscles of SBMA mice. Pharmacological activation of AMPK inhibited protein synthesis and reduced polyQ-expanded AR proteins in C2C12 muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest the therapeutic potential of exercise-induced effect via AMPK activation in SBMA.

Metformin: The Winding Path from Understanding Its Molecular Mechanisms to Proving Therapeutic Benefits in Neurodegenerative Disorders

Metformin, a widely prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes, has garnered increasing attention for its potential neuroprotective properties due to the growing demand for treatments for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and motor neuron diseases. This review synthesizes experimental and clinical studies on metformin's mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits for neurodegenerative disorders. A comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane library, focused on key phrases such as "metformin", "neuroprotection", and "neurodegenerative diseases", with data up to September 2023. Recent research on metformin's glucoregulatory mechanisms reveals new molecular targets, including the activation of the LKB1-AMPK signaling pathway, which is crucial for chronic administration of metformin. The pleiotropic impact may involve other stress kinases that are acutely activated. The precise role of respiratory chain complexes (I and IV), of the mitochondrial targets, or of the lysosomes in metformin effects remains to be established by further research. Research on extrahepatic targets like the gut and microbiota, as well as its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties, is crucial for understanding neurodegenerative disorders. Experimental data on animal models shows promising results, but clinical studies are inconclusive. Understanding the molecular targets and mechanisms of its effects could help design clinical trials to explore and, hopefully, prove its therapeutic effects in neurodegenerative conditions.

The Roles of Caloric Restriction Mimetics in Central Nervous System Demyelination and Remyelination

The dysfunction of myelinating glial cells, the oligodendrocytes, within the central nervous system (CNS) can result in the disruption of myelin, the lipid-rich multi-layered membrane structure that surrounds most vertebrate axons. This leads to axonal degeneration and motor/cognitive impairments. In response to demyelination in the CNS, the formation of new myelin sheaths occurs through the homeostatic process of remyelination, facilitated by the differentiation of newly formed oligodendrocytes. Apart from oligodendrocytes, the two other main glial cell types of the CNS, microglia and astrocytes, play a pivotal role in remyelination. Following a demyelination insult, microglia can phagocytose myelin debris, thus permitting remyelination, while the developing neuroinflammation in the demyelinated region triggers the activation of astrocytes. Modulating the profile of glial cells can enhance the likelihood of successful remyelination. In this context, recent studies have implicated autophagy as a pivotal pathway in glial cells, playing a significant role in both their maturation and the maintenance of myelin. In this Review, we examine the role of substances capable of modulating the autophagic machinery within the myelinating glial cells of the CNS. Such substances, called caloric restriction mimetics, have been shown to decelerate the aging process by mitigating age-related ailments, with their mechanisms of action intricately linked to the induction of autophagic processes.

Dopamine in the Regulation of Glucose Homeostasis, Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes, and Chronic Conditions of Impaired Dopamine Activity/Metabolism: Implication for Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Purposes

Dopamine regulates several functions, such as voluntary movements, spatial memory, motivation, sleep, arousal, feeding, immune function, maternal behaviors, and lactation. Less clear is the role of dopamine in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and chronic complications and conditions frequently associated with it. This review summarizes recent evidence on the role of dopamine in regulating insular metabolism and activity, the pathophysiology of traditional chronic complications associated with T2D, the pathophysiological interconnection between T2D and chronic neurological and psychiatric disorders characterized by impaired dopamine activity/metabolism, and therapeutic implications. Reinforcing dopamine signaling is therapeutic in T2D, especially in patients with dopamine-related disorders, such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, addictions, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. On the other hand, although specific trials are probably needed, certain medications approved for T2D (e.g., metformin, pioglitazone, incretin-based therapy, and gliflozins) may have a therapeutic role in such dopamine-related disorders due to anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects, improvement in insulin signaling, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, autophagy, and apoptosis, restoration of striatal dopamine synthesis, and modulation of dopamine signaling associated with reward and hedonic eating. Last, targeting dopamine metabolism could have the potential for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in chronic diabetes-related complications, such as diabetic retinopathy.

Huntington's Disease Drug Development: A Phase 3 Pipeline Analysis

Huntington's Disease (HD) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative disorder in which sufferers exhibit different combinations of movement disorders, dementia, and behavioral or psychiatric abnormalities. The disorder is a result of a trinucleotide repeat expansion mutation that is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. While there is currently no treatment to alter the course of HD, there are medications that lessen abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov was searched to identify drugs that are currently in or have completed phase III drug trials for the treatment of HD. The described phase III trials were further limited to interventional studies that were recruiting, active not recruiting, or completed. In addition, all studies must have posted an update within the past year. PubMed was used to gather further information on these interventional studies. Of the nine clinical trials that met these criteria, eight involved the following drugs: metformin, dextromethorphan/quinidine, deutetrabenazine, valbenazine, Cellavita HD, pridopidine, SAGE-718, and RO7234292 (RG6042). Of these drug treatments, four are already FDA approved. This systematic review provides a resource that summarizes the present therapies for treating this devastating condition that are currently in phase III clinical trials in the United States.

Small Molecule Pytren-4QMn Metal Complex Slows down Huntington's Disease Progression in Male zQ175 Transgenic Mice

Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder considered a rare disease with a prevalence of 5.7 per 100,000 people. It is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation consisting of expansions of trinucleotide repeats that translate into poly-glutamine enlarged mutant huntingtin proteins (mHTT), which are particularly deleterious in brain tissues. Since there is no cure for this progressive fatal disease, searches for new therapeutic approaches are much needed. The small molecule pytren-4QMn (4QMn), a highly water-soluble mimic of the enzyme superoxide dismutase, has shown in vivo beneficial anti-inflammatory activity in mice and was able to remove mHTT deposits in a C. elegans model of HD. In this study, we assessed 4QMn therapeutic potential in zQ175 neo-deleted knock-in mice, a model of HD that closely mimics the heterozygosity, genetic injury, and progressive nature of the human disease. We provide evidence that 4QMn has good acute and chronic tolerability, and can cross the blood-brain barrier, and in male, but not female, zQ175 mice moderately ameliorate HD-altered gene expression, mHtt aggregation, and HD disease phenotype. Our data highlight the importance of considering sex-specific differences when testing new therapies using animal models and postulate 4QMn as a potential novel type of small water-soluble metal complex that could be worth further investigating for its therapeutic potential in HD, as well as in other polyglutamine diseases.

Repurposing Metformin for periodontal disease management as a form of oral-systemic preventive medicine

BACKGROUND

Despite the improvements in treatment over the last decades, periodontal disease (PD) affects millions of people around the world and the only treatment available is based on controlling microbial load. Diabetes is known to increase the risk of PD establishment and progression, and recently, glucose metabolism modulation by pharmaceutical or dietarian means has been emphasised as a significant modulator of non-communicable disease development.

METHODS

The impact of pharmaceutically controlling glucose metabolism in non-diabetic animals and humans (REBEC, UTN code: U1111-1276-1942) was investigated by repurposing Metformin, as a mean to manage periodontal disease and its associated systemic risk factors.

RESULTS

We found that glucose metabolism control via use of Metformin aimed at PD management resulted in significant prevention of bone loss during induced periodontal disease and age-related bone loss in vivo. Metformin also influenced the bacterial species present in the oral environment and impacted the metabolic epithelial and stromal responses to bacterial dysbiosis at a single cell level. Systemically, Metformin controlled blood glucose levels and age-related weight gain when used long-term. Translationally, our pilot randomized control trial indicated that systemic Metformin was safe to use in non-diabetic patients and affected the periodontal tissues. During the medication window, patients showed stable levels of systemic blood glucose, lower circulating hsCRP and lower insulin levels after periodontal treatment when compared to placebo. Finally, patients treated with Metformin had improved periodontal parameters when compared to placebo treated patients.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to demonstrate that systemic interventions using Metformin in non-diabetic individuals aimed at PD prevention have oral-systemic effects constituting a possible novel form of preventive medicine for oral-systemic disease management.

From Pathogenesis to Therapeutics: A Review of 150 Years of Huntington's Disease Research

Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine-coding (CAG) trinucleotide repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD behaves as a highly penetrant dominant disorder likely acting through a toxic gain of function by the mutant huntingtin protein. Widespread cellular degeneration of the medium spiny neurons of the caudate nucleus and putamen are responsible for the onset of symptomology that encompasses motor, cognitive, and behavioural abnormalities. Over the past 150 years of HD research since George Huntington published his description, a plethora of pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed with key themes including excitotoxicity, dopaminergic imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic defects, disruption of proteostasis, transcriptional dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. Despite the identification and characterisation of the causative gene and mutation and significant advances in our understanding of the cellular pathology in recent years, a disease-modifying intervention has not yet been clinically approved. This review includes an overview of Huntington's disease, from its genetic aetiology to clinical presentation and its pathogenic manifestation. An updated view of molecular mechanisms and the latest therapeutic developments will also be discussed.

Neural Circuit Changes in Neurological Disorders: Evidence from in vivo Two-photon Imaging

Neural circuits, such as synaptic plasticity and neural activity, are critical components of healthy brain function. The consequent dynamic remodeling of neural circuits is an ongoing procedure affecting neuronal activities. Disruption of this essential process results in diseases. Advanced microscopic applications such as two-photon laser scanning microscopy have recently been applied to understand neural circuit changes during disease since it can visualize fine structural and functional cellular activation in living animals. In this review, we have summarized the latest work assessing the dynamic rewiring of postsynaptic dendritic spines and modulation of calcium transients in neurons of the intact living brain, focusing on their potential roles in neurological disorders (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, stroke, and epilepsy). Understanding the fine changes that occurred in the brain during disease is crucial for future clinical intervention developments.

Glipizide ameliorates human poly(Q) mediated neurotoxicity by upregulating insulin signalling in Drosophila disease models

Increasing reports suggest insulin signalling pathway as a putative drug target against polyglutamine [poly(Q)] disorders, such as Huntington's disease (HD), Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) 1, 2, 3 etc. However, studies on drug-based stimulation of insulin signalling cascade to mitigate poly(Q) pathogenesis are lacking. In our study, we adopted an evidence-based approach to examine if some established insulin stimulating drug can be utilized to restrict poly(Q) aetiology in Drosophila disease models. For the first time, we report that glipizide, an FDA approved anti-diabetic drug upregulates insulin signalling in poly(Q) expressing tissues and restricts formation of inclusion bodies and neurodegeneration. Moreover, it reinstates the chromatin architecture by improving histone acetylation, which is otherwise abrogated due to poly(Q) toxicity. In view of the functional conservation of insulin signalling pathway in Drosophila and humans, our finding strongly suggests that glipizide can be repurposed as an effective treatment strategy against the neurodegenerative poly(Q) disorders. Also, with appropriate validation studies in mammalian disease models, glipizide could be subsequently considered for the clinical trials in human patients.

Small molecules to perform big roles: The search for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease therapeutics

Neurological motor disorders (NMDs) such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease are characterized by the accumulation and aggregation of misfolded proteins that trigger cell death of specific neuronal populations in the central nervous system. Differential neuronal loss initiates the impaired motor control and cognitive function in the affected patients. Although major advances have been carried out to understand the molecular basis of these diseases, to date there are no treatments that can prevent, cure, or significantly delay the progression of the disease. In this context, strategies such as gene editing, cellular therapy, among others, have gained attention as they effectively reduce the load of toxic protein aggregates in different models of neurodegeneration. Nevertheless, these strategies are expensive and difficult to deliver into the patients' nervous system. Thus, small molecules and natural products that reduce protein aggregation levels are highly sought after. Numerous drug discovery efforts have analyzed large libraries of synthetic compounds for the treatment of different NMDs, with a few candidates reaching clinical trials. Moreover, the recognition of new druggable targets for NMDs has allowed the discovery of new small molecules that have demonstrated their efficacy in pre-clinical studies. It is also important to recognize the contribution of natural products to the discovery of new candidates that can prevent or cure NMDs. Additionally, the repurposing of drugs for the treatment of NMDs has gained huge attention as they have already been through clinical trials confirming their safety in humans, which can accelerate the development of new treatment. In this review, we will focus on the new advances in the discovery of small molecules for the treatment of Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. We will begin by discussing the available pharmacological treatments to modulate the progression of neurodegeneration and to alleviate the motor symptoms in these diseases. Then, we will analyze those small molecules that have reached or are currently under clinical trials, including natural products and repurposed drugs.

Effects of lifespan-extending interventions on cognitive healthspan

Ageing is known to be the primary risk factor for most neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. They are currently incurable and worsen over time, which has broad implications in the context of lifespan and healthspan extension. Adding years to life and even to physical health is suboptimal or even insufficient, if cognitive ageing is not adequately improved. In this review, we will examine how interventions that have the potential to extend lifespan in animals affect the brain, and if they would be able to thwart or delay the development of cognitive dysfunction and/or neurodegeneration. These interventions range from lifestyle (caloric restriction, physical exercise and environmental enrichment) through pharmacological (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide precursors, resveratrol, rapamycin, metformin, spermidine and senolytics) to epigenetic reprogramming. We argue that while many of these interventions have clear potential to improve cognitive health and resilience, large-scale and long-term randomised controlled trials are needed, along with studies utilising washout periods to determine the effects of supplementation cessation, particularly in aged individuals.

Challenges in progressing cell therapies to the clinic for Huntington's disease: A review of the progress made with pluripotent stem cell derived medium spiny neurons

Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a triad of symptoms: motor, cognitive and psychiatric. HD is caused by a genetic mutation, expansion of the CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene, which results in loss of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) of the striatum. Cell replacement therapy (CRT) has emerged as a possible therapy for HD, aiming to replace those cells lost to the disease process and alleviate its symptoms. Initial pre-clinical studies used primary fetal striatal cells to provide proof-of-principal that CRT can bring about functional recovery on some behavioral tasks following transplantation into HD models. Alternative donor cell sources are required if CRT is to become a viable therapeutic option and human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) sources, which have undergone differentiation toward the MSNs lost to the disease process, have proved to be strong candidates. The focus of this chapter is to review work conducted on the functional assessment of animals following transplantation of hPSC-derived MSNs. We discuss different ways that graft function has been assessed, and the results that have been achieved to date. In addition, this chapter presents and discusses challenges that remain in this field.

Molecular inhibition of RAS signalling to target ageing and age-related health

The RAS/MAPK pathway is a highly conserved signalling pathway with a well-established role in cancer. Mutations that hyperactivate this pathway are associated with unregulated cell proliferation. Evidence from a range of model organisms also links RAS/MAPK signalling to ageing. Genetic approaches that reduce RAS/MAPK signalling activity extend lifespan and also improve healthspan, delaying the onset and/or progression of age-related functional decline. Given its role in cancer, therapeutic interventions that target and inhibit this pathway's key components are under intense investigation. The consequent availability of small molecule inhibitors raises the possibility of repurposing these compounds to ameliorate the deleterious effects of ageing. Here, we review evidence that RAS/MAPK signalling inhibitors already in clinical use, such as trametinib, acarbose, statins, metformin and dihydromyricetin, lead to lifespan extension and to improved healthspan in a range of model systems. These findings suggest that the repurposing of small molecule inhibitors of RAS/MAPK signalling might offer opportunities to improve health during ageing, and to delay or prevent the development of age-related disease. However, challenges to this approach, including poor tolerance to treatment in older adults or development of drug resistance, first need to be resolved before successful clinical implementation.

Summary: This Review critically discusses the links between RAS signalling and ageing, and how RAS inhibitors could extend lifespan and enhance healthspan.

Mn(II) Quinoline Complex (4QMn) Restores Proteostasis and Reduces Toxicity in Experimental Models of Huntington's Disease

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, of the so-called minority diseases, due to its low prevalence. It is caused by an abnormally long track of glutamines (polyQs) in mutant huntingtin (mHtt), which makes the protein toxic and prone to aggregation. Many pathways of clearance of badly-folded proteins are disrupted in neurons of patients with HD. In this work, we show that one Mn(II) quinone complex (4QMn), designed to work as an artificial superoxide dismutase, is able to activate both the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the autophagy pathway in vitro and in vivo models of HD. Activation of these pathways degrades mHtt and other protein-containing polyQs, which restores proteostasis in these models. Hence, we propose 4QMn as a potential drug to develop a therapy to treat HD.

Actions of Metformin in the Brain: A New Perspective of Metformin Treatments in Related Neurological Disorders

Metformin is a first-line drug for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the world. Besides its hypoglycemic effects, metformin also can improve cognitive or mood functions in some T2DM patients; moreover, it has been reported that metformin exerts beneficial effects on many neurological disorders, including major depressive disorder (MDD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS); however, the mechanism underlying metformin in the brain is not fully understood. Neurotransmission between neurons is fundamental for brain functions, and its defects have been implicated in many neurological disorders. Recent studies suggest that metformin appears not only to regulate synaptic transmission or plasticity in pathological conditions but also to regulate the balance of excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) in neural networks. In this review, we focused on and reviewed the roles of metformin in brain functions and related neurological disorders, which would give us a deeper understanding of the actions of metformin in the brain.

Spermatozoan Metabolism as a Non-Traditional Model for the Study of Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a fatal autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease manifested through motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits. Decreased fertility is also observed in HD animal models and HD male patients, due to altered spermatogenesis and sperm function, thus resulting in reduced fertilization potential. Although some pharmaceuticals are currently utilized to mitigate HD symptoms, an effective treatment that remedies the pathogenesis of the disease is yet to be approved by the FDA. Identification of genes and relevant diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic target pathways including glycolysis and mitochondrial complex-I-dependent respiration may be advantageous for early diagnosis, management, and treatment of the disease. This review addresses the HD pathway in neuronal and sperm metabolism, including relevant gene and protein expression in both neurons and spermatozoa, indicated in the pathogenesis of HD. Furthermore, zinc-containing and zinc-interacting proteins regulate and/or are regulated by zinc ion homeostasis in both neurons and spermatozoa. Therefore, this review also aims to explore the comparative role of zinc in both neuronal and sperm function. Ongoing studies aim to characterize the products of genes implicated in HD pathogenesis that are expressed in both neurons and spermatozoa to facilitate studies of future treatment avenues in HD and HD-related male infertility. The emerging link between zinc homeostasis and the HD pathway could lead to new treatments and diagnostic methods linking genetic sperm defects with somatic comorbidities.

1-Mesityl-3-(3-Sulfonatopropyl) Imidazolium Protects Against Oxidative Stress and Delays Proteotoxicity in C. elegans

Due to the increase in life expectancy worldwide, age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become more prevalent. Conventional treatments comprise drugs that only attenuate some of the symptoms, but fail to arrest or delay neuronal proteotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Due to their diverse biological activities, imidazole rings are intensively explored as powerful scaffolds for the development of new bioactive molecules. By using C. elegans, our work aims to explore novel biological roles for these compounds. To this end, we have tested the in vivo anti-proteotoxic effects of imidazolium salts. Since NDs have been largely linked to impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, we focused on 1-Mesityl-3-(3-sulfonatopropyl) imidazolium (MSI), one of the imidazolium salts that we identified as capable of improving iron-induced oxidative stress resistance in wild-type animals. By combining mutant and gene expression analysis we have determined that this protective effect depends on the activation of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF-1), whereas it is independent of other canonical cytoprotective molecules such as abnormal Dauer Formation-16 (DAF-16/FOXO) and Skinhead-1 (SKN-1/Nrf2). To delve deeper into the biological roles of MSI, we analyzed the impact of this compound on previously established C. elegans models of protein aggregation. We found that MSI ameliorates β-amyloid-induced paralysis in worms expressing the pathological protein involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. Moreover, this compound also delays age-related locomotion decline in other proteotoxic C. elegans models, suggesting a broad protective effect. Taken together, our results point to MSI as a promising anti-proteotoxic compound and provide proof of concept of the potential of imidazole derivatives in the development of novel therapies to retard age-related proteotoxic diseases.

Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and Biological Assays of Copper-Binding Molecules for Screening of Different Drugs and Plant Extracts against Neurodegenerative Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders, caused by prone-to-aggregation proteins, such as Alzheimer disease or Huntington disease, share other traits such as disrupted homeostasis of essential metal ions, like copper. In this context, in an attempt to identify Cu²⁺ chelating agents, we study several organic compounds (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, phenylenediamine, metformin, salicylate, and trehalose) and organic extracts obtained from Bacopa monnieri L., which has been used in Ayurvedic therapies and presented a broad spectrum of biological properties. For this purpose, UV-visible spectroscopy analysis and electrochemical measurements were performed. Further, biological assays were performed in Caenorhabditis elegans models of polyQ toxicity, in an attempt to obtain better insights on neurodegenerative disorders.

Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Metformin for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Metformin, one of the first-line of hypoglycemic drugs, has cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities, in addition to its proven hypoglycemic effects. Furthermore, the preventive and therapeutic potential of metformin for neurodegenerative diseases has become a topic of concern. Increasing research suggests that metformin can prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In recent years, many studies have investigated the neuroprotective effect of metformin in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. It has been revealed that metformin can play a neuroprotective role by regulating energy metabolism, oxidative stress, inflammatory response and protein deposition of cells, and avoiding neuronal dysfunction and neuronal death. On the contrary, some have hypothesized that metformin has a two-sided effect which may accelerate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the results of animal experiments and clinical studies are reviewed to discuss the application prospects of metformin in neurodegenerative diseases.

Using Caenorhabditis elegans to Model Therapeutic Interventions of Neurodegenerative Diseases Targeting Microbe-Host Interactions

Emerging evidence from both clinical studies and animal models indicates the importance of the interaction between the gut microbiome and the brain in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Although how microbes modulate neurodegeneration is still mostly unclear, recent studies have started to probe into the mechanisms for the communication between microbes and hosts in NDs. In this review, we highlight the advantages of using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to disentangle the microbe-host interaction that regulates neurodegeneration. We summarize the microbial pro- and anti-neurodegenerative factors identified using the C. elegans ND models and the effects of many are confirmed in mouse models. Specifically, we focused on the role of bacterial amyloid proteins, such as curli, in promoting proteotoxicity and neurodegeneration by cross-seeding the aggregation of endogenous ND-related proteins, such as α-synuclein. Targeting bacterial amyloid production may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating NDs, and several compounds, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), were shown to suppress neurodegeneration at least partly by inhibiting curli production. Because bacterial amyloid fibrils contribute to biofilm formation, inhibition of amyloid production often leads to the disruption of biofilms. Interestingly, from a list of 59 compounds that showed neuroprotective effects in C. elegans and mouse ND models, we found that about half of them are known to inhibit bacterial growth or biofilm formation, suggesting a strong correlation between the neuroprotective and antibiofilm activities. Whether these potential therapeutics indeed protect neurons from proteotoxicity by inhibiting the cross-seeding between bacterial and human amyloid proteins awaits further investigations. Finally, we propose to screen the long list of antibiofilm agents, both FDA-approved drugs and novel compounds, for their neuroprotective effects and develop new pharmaceuticals that target the gut microbiome for the treatment of NDs. To this end, the C. elegans ND models can serve as a platform for fast, high-throughput, and low-cost drug screens that target the microbe-host interaction in NDs.

MiR-27a-5p regulates acrylamide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and intrinsic apoptosis via targeting Btf3 in rats

Acrylamide (AA), a potential carcinogen, is commonly formed in foods rich in carbohydrates at high heat. It is known that AA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is responsible for its toxicity. Previously we found AA exposure increased miR-27a-5p expression in livers of SD rats. Here, the regulation mechanism of miR-27a-5p in mitochondrial dysfunction was investigated in rat liver cell lines (IAR20) and SD rats. The results showed that the overexpressed miR-27a-5p contributes to modulating mitochondrial dysfunction and Btf3 is identified as its target gene. The knockdown of Btf3 increases the cleaved PARP1 level and the phosphorylation of ATM and p53, which results in mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Therefore, the miR-27a-5p-Btf3-ATM-p53 axis might play a vital role in the promotion of AA-induced cell apoptosis through disrupting mitochondrial structure and function. This would provide a potential target for the assessment and intervention of AA toxicity.

Neuroprotective Effect of IND1316, an Indole-Based AMPK Activator, in Animal Models of Huntington Disease

Aggregation of mutant huntingtin, because of an expanded polyglutamine track, underlies the cause of neurodegeneration in Huntington disease (HD). However, it remains unclear how some alterations at the cellular level lead to specific structural changes in HD brains. In this context, the neuroprotective effect of the activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) appears to be a determinant factor in several neurodegenerative diseases, including HD. In the present work, we describe a series of indole-derived compounds able to activate AMPK at the cellular level. By using animal models of HD (both worms and mice), we demonstrate the in vivo efficacy of one of these compounds (IND1316), confirming that it can reduce the neuropathological symptoms of this disease. Taken together, in vivo results and in silico studies of druggability, allow us to suggest that IND1316 could be considered as a promising new lead compound for the treatment of HD and other central nervous system diseases in which the activation of AMPK results in neuroprotection.

Emerging roles of dysregulated adenosine homeostasis in brain disorders with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases

In modern societies, with an increase in the older population, age-related neurodegenerative diseases have progressively become greater socioeconomic burdens. To date, despite the tremendous effort devoted to understanding neurodegenerative diseases in recent decades, treatment to delay disease progression is largely ineffective and is in urgent demand. The development of new strategies targeting these pathological features is a timely topic. It is important to note that most degenerative diseases are associated with the accumulation of specific misfolded proteins, which is facilitated by several common features of neurodegenerative diseases (including poor energy homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction). Adenosine is a purine nucleoside and neuromodulator in the brain. It is also an essential component of energy production pathways, cellular metabolism, and gene regulation in brain cells. The levels of intracellular and extracellular adenosine are thus tightly controlled by a handful of proteins (including adenosine metabolic enzymes and transporters) to maintain proper adenosine homeostasis. Notably, disruption of adenosine homeostasis in the brain under various pathophysiological conditions has been documented. In the past two decades, adenosine receptors (particularly A₁ and A_2A adenosine receptors) have been actively investigated as important drug targets in major degenerative diseases. Unfortunately, except for an A_2A antagonist (istradefylline) administered as an adjuvant treatment with levodopa for Parkinson's disease, no effective drug based on adenosine receptors has been developed for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the emerging findings on proteins involved in the control of adenosine homeostasis in the brain and discuss the challenges and future prospects for the development of new therapeutic treatments for neurodegenerative diseases and their associated disorders based on the understanding of adenosine homeostasis.

Adverse Effects of Metformin From Diabetes to COVID-19, Cancer, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Aging: Is VDAC1 a Common Target?

Metformin has been used for treating diabetes mellitus since the late 1950s. In addition to its antihyperglycemic activity, it was shown to be a potential drug candidate for treating a range of other diseases that include various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetic kidney disease, neurodegenerative diseases, renal diseases, obesity, inflammation, COVID-19 in diabetic patients, and aging. In this review, we focus on the important aspects of mitochondrial dysfunction in energy metabolism and cell death with their gatekeeper VDAC1 (voltage-dependent anion channel 1) as a possible metformin target, and summarize metformin's effects in several diseases and gut microbiota. We question how the same drug can act on diseases with opposite characteristics, such as increasing apoptotic cell death in cancer, while inhibiting it in neurodegenerative diseases. Interestingly, metformin's adverse effects in many diseases all show VDAC1 involvement, suggesting that it is a common factor in metformin-affecting diseases. The findings that metformin has an opposite effect on various diseases are consistent with the fact that VDAC1 controls cell life and death, supporting the idea that it is a target for metformin.

New Avenues for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the HD gene. The disease is characterized by neurodegeneration, particularly in the striatum and cortex. The first symptoms usually appear in mid-life and include cognitive deficits and motor disturbances that progress over time. Despite being a genetic disorder with a known cause, several mechanisms are thought to contribute to neurodegeneration in HD, and numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. Although current clinical trials may lead to the identification or refinement of treatments that are likely to improve the quality of life of those living with HD, major efforts continue to be invested at the pre-clinical level, with numerous studies testing novel approaches that show promise as disease-modifying strategies. This review offers a detailed overview of the currently approved treatment options for HD and the clinical trials for this neurodegenerative disorder that are underway and concludes by discussing potential disease-modifying treatments that have shown promise in pre-clinical studies, including increasing neurotropic support, modulating autophagy, epigenetic and genetic manipulations, and the use of nanocarriers and stem cells.

Beneficial Effects of Metformin on the Central Nervous System, with a Focus on Epilepsy and Lafora Disease

Metformin is a drug in the family of biguanide compounds that is widely used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Interestingly, the therapeutic potential of metformin expands its prescribed use as an anti-diabetic drug. In this sense, it has been described that metformin administration has beneficial effects on different neurological conditions. In this work, we review the beneficial effects of this drug as a neuroprotective agent in different neurological diseases, with a special focus on epileptic disorders and Lafora disease, a particular type of progressive myoclonus epilepsy. In addition, we review the different proposed mechanisms of action of metformin to understand its function at the neurological level.

Compounds that extend longevity are protective in neurodegenerative diseases and provide a novel treatment strategy for these devastating disorders

While aging is the greatest risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative disease, the role of aging in these diseases is poorly understood. In the inherited forms of these diseases, the disease-causing mutation is present from birth but symptoms appear decades later. This indicates that these mutations are well tolerated in younger individuals but not in older adults. Based on this observation, we hypothesized that changes taking place during normal aging make the cells in the brain (and elsewhere) susceptible to the disease-causing mutations. If so, then delaying some of these age-related changes may be beneficial in the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we examine the effects of five compounds that have been shown to extend longevity (metformin, rapamycin, resveratrol, N-acetyl-l-cysteine, curcumin) in four of the most common neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). While not all investigations observe a beneficial effect of these compounds, there are multiple studies that show a protective effect of each of these lifespan-extending compounds in animal models of neurodegenerative disease. Combined with genetic studies, this suggests the possibility that targeting the aging process may be an effective strategy to treat neurodegenerative disease.

Synergistic activation of AMPK prevents from polyglutamine-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Expression of abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) tracks is the source of a range of dominant neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington disease. Currently, there is no treatment for this devastating disease, although some chemicals, e.g., metformin, have been proposed as therapeutic solutions. In this work, we show that metformin, together with salicylate, can synergistically reduce the number of aggregates produced after polyQ expression in Caenorhabditis elegans. Moreover, we demonstrate that incubation polyQ-stressed worms with low doses of both chemicals restores neuronal functionality. Both substances are pleitotropic and may activate a range of different targets. However, we demonstrate in this report that the beneficial effect induced by the combination of these drugs depends entirely on the catalytic action of AMPK, since loss of function mutants of aak-2/AMPKα2 do not respond to the treatment. To further investigate the mechanism of the synergetic activity of metformin/salicylate, we used CRISPR to generate mutant alleles of the scaffolding subunit of AMPK, aakb-1/AMPKβ1. In addition, we used an RNAi strategy to silence the expression of the second AMPKβ subunit in worms, namely aakb-2/AMPKβ2. In this work, we demonstrated that both regulatory subunits of AMPK are modulators of protein homeostasis. Interestingly, only aakb-2/AMPKβ2 is required for the synergistic action of metformin/salicylate to reduce polyQ aggregation. Finally, we showed that autophagy acts downstream of metformin/salicylate-related AMPK activation to promote healthy protein homeostasis in worms.