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Barresi E, Baglini E, Poggetti V, Castagnoli J, Giorgini D, Salerno S, Taliani S, Da Settimo F. Indole-Based Compounds in the Development of Anti-Neurodegenerative Agents. Molecules 2024; 29:2127. [PMID: 38731618 PMCID: PMC11085553 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092127] [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: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Barresi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
| | - Emma Baglini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council of Italy, CNR Research Area, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Valeria Poggetti
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
| | - Jacopo Castagnoli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
| | - Doralice Giorgini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 132, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Silvia Salerno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
| | - Sabrina Taliani
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
| | - Federico Da Settimo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (E.B.); (V.P.); (J.C.); (F.D.S.)
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Loan A, Syal C, Lui M, He L, Wang J. Promising use of metformin in treating neurological disorders: biomarker-guided therapies. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1045-1055. [PMID: 37862207 PMCID: PMC10749596 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.385286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Loan
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Charvi Syal
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Margarita Lui
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ling He
- Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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3
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Tao W, Zhang Y, Wang B, Nie S, Fang L, Xiao J, Wu Y. Advances in molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for central nervous system diseases based on gut microbiota imbalance. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00124-3. [PMID: 38579985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUD Central nervous system (CNS) diseases pose a serious threat to human health, but the regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of CNS diseases need to be further explored. It has been demonstrated that the gut microbiota (GM) is closely related to CNS disease. GM structure disorders, abnormal microbial metabolites, intestinal barrier destruction and elevated inflammation exist in patients with CNS diseases and promote the development of CNS diseases. More importantly, GM remodeling alleviates CNS pathology to some extent. AIM OF REVIEW Here, we have summarized the regulatory mechanism of the GM in CNS diseases and the potential treatment strategies for CNS repair based on GM regulation, aiming to provide safer and more effective strategies for CNS repair from the perspective of GM regulation. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW The abundance and composition of GM is closely associated with the CNS diseases. On the basis of in-depth analysis of GM changes in mice with CNS disease, as well as the changes in its metabolites, therapeutic strategies, such as probiotics, prebiotics, and FMT, may be used to regulate GM balance and affect its microbial metabolites, thereby promoting the recovery of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Tao
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yanren Zhang
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Bingbin Wang
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Saiqun Nie
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Li Fang
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Jian Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China.
| | - Yanqing Wu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
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4
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McGarry A, Hunter K, Gaughan J, Auinger P, Ferraro TN, Pradhan B, Ferrucci L, Egan JM, Moaddel R. An exploratory metabolomic comparison of participants with fast or absent functional progression from 2CARE, a randomized, double-blind clinical trial in Huntington's disease. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1101. [PMID: 38212353 PMCID: PMC10784537 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50553-y] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is increasingly recognized for diverse pathology outside of the nervous system. To describe the biology of HD in relation to functional progression, we previously analyzed the plasma and CSF metabolome in a cross-sectional study of participants who had various degrees of functional impairment. Here, we carried out an exploratory study in plasma from HD individuals over a 3-year time frame to assess whether differences exist between those with fast or absent clinical progression. There were more differences in circulating metabolite levels for fast progressors compared to absent progressors (111 vs 20, nominal p < 0.05). All metabolite changes in faster progressors were decreases, whereas some metabolite concentrations increased in absent progressors. Many of the metabolite levels that decreased in the fast progressors were higher at Screening compared to absent progressors but ended up lower by Year 3. Changes in faster progression suggest greater oxidative stress and inflammation (kynurenine, diacylglycerides, cysteine), disturbances in nitric oxide and urea metabolism (arginine, citrulline, ornithine, GABR), lower polyamines (putrescine and spermine), elevated glucose, and deficient AMPK signaling. Metabolomic differences between fast and absent progressors suggest the possibility of predicting functional decline in HD, and possibly delaying it with interventions to augment arginine, polyamines, and glucose regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew McGarry
- Department of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital and Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA.
| | - Krystal Hunter
- Department of Medicine, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - John Gaughan
- Department of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital and Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Peggy Auinger
- Department of Neurology, Center for Health and Technology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Thomas N Ferraro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Basant Pradhan
- Department of Psychiatry, Cooper Medical School at Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Josephine M Egan
- Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Ruin Moaddel
- Biomedical Research Center, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Isop LM, Neculau AE, Necula RD, Kakucs C, Moga MA, Dima L. Metformin: The Winding Path from Understanding Its Molecular Mechanisms to Proving Therapeutic Benefits in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1714. [PMID: 38139841 PMCID: PMC10748332 DOI: 10.3390/ph16121714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Mihaela Isop
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
| | - Andrea Elena Neculau
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
| | - Radu Dan Necula
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Cristian Kakucs
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Marius Alexandru Moga
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania
| | - Lorena Dima
- Department of Fundamental, Prophylactic and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University of Brasov, 500036 Brașov, Romania; (L.M.I.)
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6
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Lisco G, De Tullio A, Iovino M, Disoteo O, Guastamacchia E, Giagulli VA, Triggiani V. 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. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2993. [PMID: 38001993 PMCID: PMC10669051 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Lisco
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
| | - Anna De Tullio
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
| | - Michele Iovino
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
| | - Olga Disoteo
- Diabetology Unit, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, 20162 Milan, Italy;
| | - Edoardo Guastamacchia
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
| | - Vito Angelo Giagulli
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
| | - Vincenzo Triggiani
- Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy; (G.L.); (A.D.T.); (M.I.); (E.G.); (V.A.G.)
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7
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Zhao JY, Sheng XL, Li CJ, Qin T, He RD, Dai GY, Cao Y, Lu HB, Duan CY, Hu JZ. Metformin promotes angiogenesis and functional recovery in aged mice after spinal cord injury by adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:1553-1562. [PMID: 36571362 PMCID: PMC10075126 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.360245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment with metformin can lead to the recovery of pleiotropic biological activities after spinal cord injury. However, its effect on spinal cord injury in aged mice remains unclear. Considering the essential role of angiogenesis during the regeneration process, we hypothesized that metformin activates the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway in endothelial cells, thereby promoting microvascular regeneration in aged mice after spinal cord injury. In this study, we established young and aged mouse models of contusive spinal cord injury using a modified Allen method. We found that aging hindered the recovery of neurological function and the formation of blood vessels in the spinal cord. Treatment with metformin promoted spinal cord microvascular endothelial cell migration and blood vessel formation in vitro. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of metformin in an in vivo model promoted endothelial cell proliferation and increased the density of new blood vessels in the spinal cord, thereby improving neurological function. The role of metformin was reversed by compound C, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibitor, both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway likely regulates metformin-mediated angiogenesis after spinal cord injury. These findings suggest that metformin promotes vascular regeneration in the injured spinal cord by activating the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase/endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway, thereby improving the neurological function of aged mice after spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Yun Zhao
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xiao-Long Sheng
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Cheng-Jun Li
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Tian Qin
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Run-Dong He
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Guo-Yu Dai
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yong Cao
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hong-Bin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health; Department of Sports Medicine, Research Centre of Sports Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Chun-Yue Duan
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery and Orthopedics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Key Laboratory of Organ Injury, Aging and Regenerative Medicine of Hunan Province; National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University; Hunan Engineering Research Center of Sports and Health, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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8
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Dutta S, Shah RB, Singhal S, Dutta SB, Bansal S, Sinha S, Haque M. Metformin: A Review of Potential Mechanism and Therapeutic Utility Beyond Diabetes. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:1907-1932. [PMID: 37397787 PMCID: PMC10312383 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s409373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Metformin has been designated as one of the most crucial first-line therapeutic agents in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Primarily being an antihyperglycemic agent, metformin also has a plethora of pleiotropic effects on various systems and processes. It acts majorly by activating AMPK (Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase) in the cells and reducing glucose output from the liver. It also decreases advanced glycation end products and reactive oxygen species production in the endothelium apart from regulating the glucose and lipid metabolism in the cardiomyocytes, hence minimizing the cardiovascular risks. Its anticancer, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects on malignant cells might prove instrumental in the malignancy of organs like the breast, kidney, brain, ovary, lung, and endometrium. Preclinical studies have also shown some evidence of metformin's neuroprotective role in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Metformin exerts its pleiotropic effects through varied pathways of intracellular signalling and exact mechanism in the majority of them remains yet to be clearly defined. This article has extensively reviewed the therapeutic benefits of metformin and the details of its mechanism for a molecule of boon in various conditions like diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, polycystic ovarian disease, metabolic derangement in HIV, various cancers and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddhartha Dutta
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Rima B Shah
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Shubha Singhal
- Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Sudeshna Banerjee Dutta
- Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Shri Anand Institute of Nursing, Rajkot, Gujarat, 360005, India
| | - Sumit Bansal
- Department of Anaesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rajkot, Gujarat, India
| | - Susmita Sinha
- Department of Physiology, Khulna City Medical College and Hospital, Khulna, Bangladesh
| | - Mainul Haque
- Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, 57000, Malaysia
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9
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Pérez-Arancibia R, Cisternas-Olmedo M, Sepúlveda D, Troncoso-Escudero P, Vidal RL. Small molecules to perform big roles: The search for Parkinson's and Huntington's disease therapeutics. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1084493. [PMID: 36699535 PMCID: PMC9868863 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1084493] [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: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Pérez-Arancibia
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile,Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Faculty of Medicine and Science, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marisol Cisternas-Olmedo
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile,Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
| | - Denisse Sepúlveda
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile,Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paulina Troncoso-Escudero
- Molecular Diagnostic and Biomarkers Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Clínica Alemana, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rene L. Vidal
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile,Biomedical Neuroscience Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,Center for Geroscience, Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: Rene L. Vidal ✉
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10
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Kim H, Gomez-Pastor R. HSF1 and Its Role in Huntington's Disease Pathology. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1410:35-95. [PMID: 36396925 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2022_742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is the master transcriptional regulator of the heat shock response (HSR) in mammalian cells and is a critical element in maintaining protein homeostasis. HSF1 functions at the center of many physiological processes like embryogenesis, metabolism, immune response, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration. However, the mechanisms that allow HSF1 to control these different biological and pathophysiological processes are not fully understood. This review focuses on Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by severe protein aggregation of the huntingtin (HTT) protein. The aggregation of HTT, in turn, leads to a halt in the function of HSF1. Understanding the pathways that regulate HSF1 in different contexts like HD may hold the key to understanding the pathomechanisms underlying other proteinopathies. We provide the most current information on HSF1 structure, function, and regulation, emphasizing HD, and discussing its potential as a biological target for therapy. DATA SOURCES We performed PubMed search to find established and recent reports in HSF1, heat shock proteins (Hsp), HD, Hsp inhibitors, HSF1 activators, and HSF1 in aging, inflammation, cancer, brain development, mitochondria, synaptic plasticity, polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, and HD. STUDY SELECTIONS Research and review articles that described the mechanisms of action of HSF1 were selected based on terms used in PubMed search. RESULTS HSF1 plays a crucial role in the progression of HD and other protein-misfolding related neurodegenerative diseases. Different animal models of HD, as well as postmortem brains of patients with HD, reveal a connection between the levels of HSF1 and HSF1 dysfunction to mutant HTT (mHTT)-induced toxicity and protein aggregation, dysregulation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disruption of the structural and functional integrity of synaptic connections, which eventually leads to neuronal loss. These features are shared with other neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Currently, several inhibitors against negative regulators of HSF1, as well as HSF1 activators, are developed and hold promise to prevent neurodegeneration in HD and other NDs. CONCLUSION Understanding the role of HSF1 during protein aggregation and neurodegeneration in HD may help to develop therapeutic strategies that could be effective across different NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuck Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Rocio Gomez-Pastor
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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11
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Wang Q, Xue H, Yue Y, Hao S, Huang SH, Zhang Z. Role of mitophagy in the neurodegenerative diseases and its pharmacological advances: A review. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1014251. [PMID: 36267702 PMCID: PMC9578687 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1014251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a class of incurable and debilitating diseases characterized by progressive degeneration and death of cells in the central nervous system. They have multiple underlying mechanisms; however, they all share common degenerative features, such as mitochondrial dysfunction. According to recent studies, neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria. Selective autophagy of mitochondria, called mitophagy, can specifically degrade excess or dysfunctional mitochondria within cells. In this review, we highlight recent findings on the role of mitophagy in neurodegenerative disorders. Multiple studies were collected, including those related to the importance of mitochondria, the mechanism of mitophagy in protecting mitochondrial health, and canonical and non-canonical pathways in mitophagy. This review elucidated the important function of mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases, discussed the research progress of mitophagy in neurodegenerative diseases, and summarized the role of mitophagy-related proteins in neurological diseases. In addition, we also highlight pharmacological advances in neurodegeneration.
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12
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Merino M, Sequedo MD, Sánchez-Sánchez AV, Clares MP, García-España E, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Mullor JL. Mn(II) Quinoline Complex (4QMn) Restores Proteostasis and Reduces Toxicity in Experimental Models of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8936. [PMID: 36012207 PMCID: PMC9409211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marián Merino
- Bionos Biotech SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - María Dolores Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Mª Paz Clares
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Enrique García-España
- Departamento de Química Orgánica e Inorgánica, Instituto de Ciencia Molecular, Universidad de Valencia, 46980 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José L. Mullor
- Bionos Biotech SL, Biopolo Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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13
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Therapeutic Strategies in Huntington’s Disease: From Genetic Defect to Gene Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081895. [PMID: 36009443 PMCID: PMC9405755 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the identification of an expanded CAG repeat on exon 1 of the huntingtin gene located on chromosome 1 as the genetic defect causing Huntington’s disease almost 30 years ago, currently approved therapies provide only limited symptomatic relief and do not influence the age of onset or disease progression rate. Research has identified various intricate pathogenic cascades which lead to neuronal degeneration, but therapies interfering with these mechanisms have been marked by many failures and remain to be validated. Exciting new opportunities are opened by the emerging techniques which target the mutant protein DNA and RNA, allowing for “gene editing”. Although some issues relating to “off-target” effects or immune-mediated side effects need to be solved, these strategies, combined with stem cell therapies and more traditional approaches targeting specific pathogenic cascades, such as excitotoxicity and bioavailability of neurotrophic factors, could lead to significant improvement of the outcomes of treated Huntington’s disease patients.
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14
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Lawlor M, Zigo M, Kerns K, Cho IK, Easley IV CA, Sutovsky P. Spermatozoan Metabolism as a Non-Traditional Model for the Study of Huntington’s Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137163. [PMID: 35806166 PMCID: PMC9266437 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Lawlor
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - In Ki Cho
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Charles A. Easley IV
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (I.K.C.); (C.A.E.IV)
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; (M.L.); (M.Z.); (K.K.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(573)-882-3329
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15
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Wu YQ, Xiong J, He ZL, Yuan Y, Wang BN, Xu JY, Wu M, Zhang SS, Cai SF, Zhao JX, Xu K, Zhang HY, Xiao J. Metformin promotes microglial cells to facilitate myelin debris clearance and accelerate nerve repairment after spinal cord injury. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:1360-1371. [PMID: 34480113 PMCID: PMC9160053 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00759-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one kind of severe trauma for central nervous system. Myelin debris clearance and axon regeneration are essential for nerve regeneration after SCI. Metformin, a glucose-lowering drug, has been demonstrated to promote the locomotor functional recovery after SCI. In this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of metformin on myelin preservation in a rat SCI model. SCI was induced in rats by compression at T9 level using a vascular clip. We showed that administration of metformin (50 mg·kg-1·d-1, ip) for 28 days significantly improved locomotor function in SCI rats. Metformin also ameliorated SCI-induced neuronal apoptosis and promoted axon regeneration in the spinal cord. Using co-immunofluorescence of IBa-1 and MBP, and luxol fasting blue (LFB) staining, we demonstrated that metformin promoted the transformation of M1 to M2 phenotype polarization of microglial cells, then greatly facilitated myelin debris clearance and protected the myelin in SCI rats. Furthermore, metformin ameliorated SCI-induced blockade of autophagic flux in the spinal cord, and enhanced the fusion of autophagosome and lysosome by inhibiting the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, metformin significantly attenuated inflammatory responses in the spinal cord. In LPS-treated BV2 cells, pretreatment with metformin (2 mM) significantly enhanced autophagy level, suppressed inflammation and cell apoptosis. The protective effects were blocked in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA, 5 mM), suggesting that the effect of metformin on autophagy in microglial cells is essential for the myelin preservation during nerve recovery. This study reveals a novel therapeutic effect of metformin in SCI recovery by regulating the activation of microglial cells and enhancing its autophagy level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qing Wu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Engineering Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Pharmaceutical Development of Growth Factors, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Wenzhou, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jun Xiong
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Zi-Li He
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Department of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital, Zhejiang Province Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Bei-Ni Wang
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jing-Yu Xu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Engineering Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Pharmaceutical Development of Growth Factors, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Wenzhou, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Man Wu
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Su-Su Zhang
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Shu-Fang Cai
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Engineering Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Pharmaceutical Development of Growth Factors, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Wenzhou, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Jia-Xin Zhao
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Ke Xu
- The Institute of Life Sciences, Engineering Laboratory of Zhejiang Province for Pharmaceutical Development of Growth Factors, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Wenzhou, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China
| | - Hong-Yu Zhang
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Jian Xiao
- Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, School of Pharmaceutical Science Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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16
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Brinvillier D, Barrast M, Couderc-Murillo P, Bono-Yagüe J, Rousteau A, Gómez Escribano AP, Palmeira-Mello MV, Doménech-Carbó A, Passe-Coutrin N, Sylvestre M, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Cebrián-Torrejón G. Spectroscopic, Electrochemical, and Biological Assays of Copper-Binding Molecules for Screening of Different Drugs and Plant Extracts against Neurodegenerative Disorders. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:16260-16269. [PMID: 35601340 PMCID: PMC9118385 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c03378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Brinvillier
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
| | - Melissa Barrast
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
| | - Petra Couderc-Murillo
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
- UA,
UMR EcoFoG, CNRS, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université
de Guyane, Université des Antilles, Pointe-à-Pitre 97159, France
| | - José Bono-Yagüe
- Laboratory
of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia 46026, Spain
- Joint
Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia 46012, Spain
| | - Alain Rousteau
- UA,
UMR EcoFoG, CNRS, Cirad, INRA, Université des Antilles, Université
de Guyane, Université des Antilles, Pointe-à-Pitre 97159, France
| | - Ana Pilar Gómez Escribano
- Laboratory
of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia 46026, Spain
- Joint
Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia 46012, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras
(CIBERER), Madrid 46010, Spain
| | - Marcos V. Palmeira-Mello
- Instituto
de Química, Universidade Federal
Fluminense, Outeiro S. João Batista S/N, Niterói 24020-141, RJ, Brazil
| | - Antonio Doménech-Carbó
- Departament
de Química Analítica, Facultat de Química, Universitat de València, Dr. Moliner 50, Burjassot 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nady Passe-Coutrin
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
| | - Muriel Sylvestre
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
| | - Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory
of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia 46026, Spain
- Joint
Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia 46012, Spain
- Centro
de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras
(CIBERER), Madrid 46010, Spain
| | - Gerardo Cebrián-Torrejón
- COVACHIM-M2E
Laboratory EA 3592, UFR SEN, Department of Chemistry, University of the French West Indies, Fouillole Campus, Pointe-à-Pitre
Cedex 97157, France
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17
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Du MR, Gao QY, Liu CL, Bai LY, Li T, Wei FL. Exploring the Pharmacological Potential of Metformin for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:838173. [PMID: 35557834 PMCID: PMC9087341 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.838173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Rui Du
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Quan-You Gao
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Chen-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Lin-Ya Bai
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tian Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei-Long Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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18
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Li T, Jing P, Yang L, Wan Y, Du X, Wei J, Zhou M, Liu Z, Lin Y, Zhong Z. CAQK modification enhances the targeted accumulation of metformin-loaded nanoparticles in rats with spinal cord injury. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2022; 41:102526. [PMID: 35104674 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2022.102526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often causes neuronal membrane rupture and immediate death of neurons, followed by complicated secondary injuries. Treatment of SCI still remains a major challenge in clinical practice; thus, a great advance is urgently needed in this field. Metformin (MET) has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective properties, which may exert a potential therapeutic effect on SCI. In this study, we established a zein-based MET-loaded nanodrug system (CAQK-MET-NPs) for the targeted drug delivery for SCI. The results showed that MET could be effectively encapsulated into zein to obtain the zein-based spherical nanoparticles. Pharmacokinetic analysis indicated that CAQK-MET-NPs exhibited sustained-release and long-term therapeutic effects. The fluorescence imaging and tissue distribution experiments showed that CAQK-MET-NPs could efficiently accumulate at the lesion site of SCI rats. In conclusion, CAQK-MET-NPs may be a promising nanodrug for the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China; The Second Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Pei Jing
- Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Lingling Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yujie Wan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xingjie Du
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Jun Wei
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Meiling Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhongbing Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
| | - Zhirong Zhong
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China.
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19
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Jetto CT, Nambiar A, Manjithaya R. Mitophagy and Neurodegeneration: Between the Knowns and the Unknowns. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:837337. [PMID: 35392168 PMCID: PMC8981085 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.837337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Macroautophagy (henceforth autophagy) an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway, involves lysosomal degradation of damaged and superfluous cytosolic contents to maintain cellular homeostasis. While autophagy was initially perceived as a bulk degradation process, a surfeit of studies in the last 2 decades has revealed that it can also be selective in choosing intracellular constituents for degradation. In addition to the core autophagy machinery, these selective autophagy pathways comprise of distinct molecular players that are involved in the capture of specific cargoes. The diverse organelles that are degraded by selective autophagy pathways are endoplasmic reticulum (ERphagy), lysosomes (lysophagy), mitochondria (mitophagy), Golgi apparatus (Golgiphagy), peroxisomes (pexophagy) and nucleus (nucleophagy). Among these, the main focus of this review is on the selective autophagic pathway involved in mitochondrial turnover called mitophagy. The mitophagy pathway encompasses diverse mechanisms involving a complex interplay of a multitude of proteins that confers the selective recognition of damaged mitochondria and their targeting to degradation via autophagy. Mitophagy is triggered by cues that signal the mitochondrial damage such as disturbances in mitochondrial fission-fusion dynamics, mitochondrial membrane depolarisation, enhanced ROS production, mtDNA damage as well as developmental cues such as erythrocyte maturation, removal of paternal mitochondria, cardiomyocyte maturation and somatic cell reprogramming. As research on the mechanistic aspects of this complex pathway is progressing, emerging roles of new players such as the NIPSNAP proteins, Miro proteins and ER-Mitochondria contact sites (ERMES) are being explored. Although diverse aspects of this pathway are being investigated in depth, several outstanding questions such as distinct molecular players of basal mitophagy, selective dominance of a particular mitophagy adapter protein over the other in a given physiological condition, molecular mechanism of how specific disease mutations affect this pathway remain to be addressed. In this review, we aim to give an overview with special emphasis on molecular and signalling pathways of mitophagy and its dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuckoo Teresa Jetto
- Autophagy Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Akshaya Nambiar
- Autophagy Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Ravi Manjithaya
- Autophagy Laboratory, Molecular Biology and Genetics Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India
- Neuroscience Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bengaluru, India
- *Correspondence: Ravi Manjithaya,
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20
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Structural Plasticity of the Hippocampus in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063349. [PMID: 35328770 PMCID: PMC8955928 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroplasticity is the capacity of neural networks in the brain to alter through development and rearrangement. It can be classified as structural and functional plasticity. The hippocampus is more susceptible to neuroplasticity as compared to other brain regions. Structural modifications in the hippocampus underpin several neurodegenerative diseases that exhibit cognitive and emotional dysregulation. This article reviews the findings of several preclinical and clinical studies about the role of structural plasticity in the hippocampus in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. In this study, literature was surveyed using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, to review the mechanisms that underlie the alterations in the structural plasticity of the hippocampus in neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the role of structural plasticity in the hippocampus for the etiopathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and identifies the current focus and gaps in knowledge about hippocampal dysfunctions. Ultimately, this information will be useful to propel future mechanistic and therapeutic research in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Trujillo-Del Río C, Tortajada-Pérez J, Gómez-Escribano AP, Casterá F, Peiró C, Millán JM, Herrero MJ, Vázquez-Manrique RP. Metformin to treat Huntington disease: a pleiotropic drug against a multi-system disorder. Mech Ageing Dev 2022; 204:111670. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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22
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Feng J, Wang X, Ye X, Ares I, Lopez-Torres B, Martínez M, Martínez-Larrañaga MR, Wang X, Anadón A, Martínez MA. Mitochondria as an important target of metformin: The mechanism of action, toxic and side effects, and new therapeutic applications. Pharmacol Res 2022; 177:106114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Cui M, Yoshimori T, Nakamura S. Autophagy system as a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Neurochem Int 2022; 155:105308. [PMID: 35181396 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionally conserved process by which cytoplasmic contents including protein aggregates and damaged organelles such as mitochondria and lysosomes, are sequestered by double-membrane structure, autophagosomes, and delivered to the lysosomes for degradation. Recently, considerable efforts have been made to reveal the role of autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Impairment of autophagy aggravates the accumulation of misfolded protein and damaged organelles in neurons, while sufficient autophagic activity reduces such accumulation in nervous system and ameliorates the pathology. Here we summarize recent progress regarding the role of autophagy in several neurodegenerative diseases and the potential autophagy-associated therapies for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengying Cui
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tamotsu Yoshimori
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Department of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
| | - Shuhei Nakamura
- Department of Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Department of Intracellular Membrane Dynamics, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Institute for Advanced Co-Creation Studies, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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Vela M, García-Gimeno MA, Sanchis A, Bono-Yagüe J, Cumella J, Lagartera L, Pérez C, Priego EM, Campos A, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Castro A. Neuroprotective Effect of IND1316, an Indole-Based AMPK Activator, in Animal Models of Huntington Disease. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:275-287. [PMID: 34962383 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Vela
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Adelaida García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica y del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Ana Sanchis
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Bono-Yagüe
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
| | - José Cumella
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Lagartera
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Concepción Pérez
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva-María Priego
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Angela Campos
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pascual Sanz
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, IBV-CSIC, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael P. Vázquez-Manrique
- Grupo de Investigación en Biomedicina Molecular, Celular y Genómica, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), 46026 Valencia, Spain
- Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, 46012 Valencia, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER)-ISCIII, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Castro
- Instituto de Química Médica, IQM-CSIC, Juan de la Cierva 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Pircs K, Drouin-Ouellet J, Horváth V, Gil J, Rezeli M, Garza R, Grassi DA, Sharma Y, St-Amour I, Harris K, Jönsson ME, Johansson PA, Vuono R, Fazal SV, Stoker T, Hersbach BA, Sharma K, Lagerwall J, Lagerström S, Storm P, Hébert SS, Marko-Varga G, Parmar M, Barker RA, Jakobsson J. Distinct subcellular autophagy impairments in induced neurons from Huntington’s disease patients. Brain 2021; 145:3035-3057. [PMID: 34936701 PMCID: PMC9473361 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG expansions in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Modelling Huntington's disease is challenging, as rodent and cellular models poorly recapitulate the disease as seen in ageing humans. To address this, we generated induced neurons through direct reprogramming of human skin fibroblasts, which retain age-dependent epigenetic characteristics. Huntington's disease induced neurons (HD-iNs) displayed profound deficits in autophagy, characterized by reduced transport of late autophagic structures from the neurites to the soma. These neurite-specific alterations in autophagy resulted in shorter, thinner and fewer neurites specifically in HD-iNs. CRISPRi-mediated silencing of HTT did not rescue this phenotype but rather resulted in additional autophagy alterations in control induced neurons, highlighting the importance of wild-type HTT in normal neuronal autophagy. In summary, our work identifies a distinct subcellular autophagy impairment in adult patient derived Huntington's disease neurons and provides a new rationale for future development of autophagy activation therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pircs
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Janelle Drouin-Ouellet
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, H3 T 1J4, Canada
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Division of Neurobiology and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11 and B10, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Vivien Horváth
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jeovanis Gil
- Oncology and Pathology, Kamprad Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Melinda Rezeli
- Clinical Protein Science and Imaging, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Raquel Garza
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniela A. Grassi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Yogita Sharma
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Isabelle St-Amour
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, CHUL, Québec, QC G1E 6W2, Canada
- CERVO Brain Research Center – Université Laval, Québec, QC G1E 1T2, Canada
| | - Kate Harris
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Marie E. Jönsson
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pia A. Johansson
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Romina Vuono
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Shaline V. Fazal
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Thomas Stoker
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Bob A. Hersbach
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Kritika Sharma
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jessica Lagerwall
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Stina Lagerström
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Petter Storm
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Division of Neurobiology and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11 and B10, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Sébastien S. Hébert
- Axe Neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Université Laval, CHUL, Québec, QC G1E 6W2, Canada
| | - György Marko-Varga
- Oncology and Pathology, Kamprad Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, S-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Malin Parmar
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Division of Neurobiology and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11 and B10, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roger A. Barker
- Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Division of Neurobiology and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11 and B10, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
- Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute & John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Johan Jakobsson
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurogenetics, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center and Lund Stem Cell Center, BMC A11, Lund University, S-221 84, Lund, Sweden
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Macroautophagy and Mitophagy in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Focus on Therapeutic Interventions. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111625. [PMID: 34829854 PMCID: PMC8615936 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Macroautophagy, a quality control mechanism, is an evolutionarily conserved pathway of lysosomal degradation of protein aggregates, pathogens, and damaged organelles. As part of its vital homeostatic role, macroautophagy deregulation is associated with various human disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. There are several lines of evidence that associate protein misfolding and mitochondrial dysfunction in the etiology of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases. Macroautophagy has been implicated in the degradation of different protein aggregates such as Aβ, tau, alpha-synuclein (α-syn), and mutant huntingtin (mHtt) and in the clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria. Taking these into consideration, targeting autophagy might represent an effective therapeutic strategy to eliminate protein aggregates and to improve mitochondrial function in these disorders. The present review describes our current understanding on the role of macroautophagy in neurodegenerative disorders and focuses on possible strategies for its therapeutic modulation.
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Hua KF, Chao AC, Lin TY, Chen WT, Lee YC, Hsu WH, Lee SL, Wang HM, Yang DI, Ju TC. Ginsenoside compound K reduces the progression of Huntington's disease via the inhibition of oxidative stress and overactivation of the ATM/AMPK pathway. J Ginseng Res 2021; 46:572-584. [PMID: 35818427 PMCID: PMC9270658 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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Emerging roles of dysregulated adenosine homeostasis in brain disorders with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases. J Biomed Sci 2021; 28:70. [PMID: 34635103 PMCID: PMC8507231 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-021-00766-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
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 A2A adenosine receptors) have been actively investigated as important drug targets in major degenerative diseases. Unfortunately, except for an A2A 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.
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Hong S, Nagayach A, Lu Y, Peng H, Duong QVA, Pham NB, Vuong CA, Bazan NG. A high fat, sugar, and salt Western diet induces motor-muscular and sensory dysfunctions and neurodegeneration in mice during aging: Ameliorative action of metformin. CNS Neurosci Ther 2021; 27:1458-1471. [PMID: 34510763 PMCID: PMC8611779 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims To explore the novel linkage between a Western diet combining high saturated fat, sugar, and salt (HFSS) and neurological dysfunctions during aging as well as Metformin intervention, we assessed cerebral cortex abnormalities associated with sensory and motor dysfunctions and cellular and molecular insights in brains using HFSS‐fed mice during aging. We also explored the effect of Metformin treatment on these mice. Methods C57BL/6 mice were fed with HFSS and treated with metformin from 20 to 22 months of age, resembling human aging from 56 to 68 years of age (an entry phase of the aged portion of lifespan). Results The motor and sensory cortexes in mice during aging after HFSS diet showed: (A) decreased motor‐muscular and sensory functions; (B) reduced inflammation‐resolving Arg‐1+ microglia; (C) increased inflammatory iNOs+ microglia and TNFα levels; (D) enhanced abundance of amyloid‐β peptide and of phosphorylated Tau. Metformin attenuated these changes. Conclusion A HFSS‐combined diet caused motor‐muscular and sensory dysfunctions, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration, whereas metformin counteracted these effects. Our findings show neuroinflammatory consequences of a HFSS diet in aging. Metformin curbs the HFSS‐related neuroinflammation eliciting neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Hong
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Aarti Nagayach
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Yan Lu
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Hongying Peng
- Biostatistics, Department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Quoc-Viet A Duong
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Nicholas B Pham
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Christopher A Vuong
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Nicolas G Bazan
- Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Effects of Metformin on Spontaneous Ca 2+ Signals in Cultured Microglia Cells under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179493. [PMID: 34502402 PMCID: PMC8430509 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglial functioning depends on Ca2+ signaling. By using Ca2+ sensitive fluorescence dye, we studied how inhibition of mitochondrial respiration changed spontaneous Ca2+ signals in soma of microglial cells from 5-7-day-old rats grown under normoxic and mild-hypoxic conditions. In microglia under normoxic conditions, metformin or rotenone elevated the rate and the amplitude of Ca2+ signals 10-15 min after drug application. Addition of cyclosporin A, a blocker of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), antioxidant trolox, or inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R) blocker caffeine in the presence of rotenone reduced the elevated rate and the amplitude of the signals implying sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS), and involvement of mitochondrial mPTP together with IP3R. Microglial cells exposed to mild hypoxic conditions for 24 h showed elevated rate and increased amplitude of Ca2+ signals. Application of metformin or rotenone but not phenformin before mild hypoxia reduced this elevated rate. Thus, metformin and rotenone had the opposing fast action in normoxia after 10-15 min and the slow action during 24 h mild-hypoxia implying activation of different signaling pathways. The slow action of metformin through inhibition of complex I could stabilize Ca2+ homeostasis after mild hypoxia and could be important for reduction of ischemia-induced microglial activation.
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Kim A, Lalonde K, Truesdell A, Gomes Welter P, Brocardo PS, Rosenstock TR, Gil-Mohapel J. New Avenues for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168363. [PMID: 34445070 PMCID: PMC8394361 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Kim
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Kathryn Lalonde
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
| | - Aaron Truesdell
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Priscilla Gomes Welter
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Patricia S. Brocardo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, Brazil; (P.G.W.); (P.S.B.)
| | - Tatiana R. Rosenstock
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Science, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
- Department of Pharmacology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Joana Gil-Mohapel
- Island Medical Program and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada; (A.K.); (K.L.)
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC V8P 5C2, Canada;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-250-472-4597; Fax: +1-250-472-5505
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Nikbakhtzadeh M, Shaerzadeh F, Ashabi G. Highlighting the protective or degenerative role of AMPK activators in dementia experimental models. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2021; 20:786-801. [PMID: 34042039 DOI: 10.2174/1871527320666210526160214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a serine/threonine kinase and a driving or deterrent factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and dementia. AMPK affects intracellular proteins like the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (among others) contributes to a wide range of intracellular activities based on its downstream molecules such as energy balancing (ATP synthesis), extracellular inflammation, cell growth, and neuronal cell death (such as apoptosis, necrosis, and necroptosis). Several studies have looked at the dual role of AMPK in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Huntington disease (HD) but the exact effect of this enzyme on dementia, stroke, and motor neuron dysfunction disorders has not been elucidated yet. In this article, we review current research on the effects of AMPK on the brain to give an overview of the relationship. More specifically, we review the neuroprotective or neurodegenerative effects of AMPK or AMPK activators like metformin, resveratrol, and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-d-ribofuranoside on neurological diseases and dementia, which exert through the intracellular molecules involved in neuronal survival or death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjan Nikbakhtzadeh
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shaerzadeh
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida College of Medicine and McKnight Brain Institute, Gainesville, United States
| | - Ghorbangol Ashabi
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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A transition to degeneration triggered by oxidative stress in degenerative disorders. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:736-746. [PMID: 33159186 PMCID: PMC7914161 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00943-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although the activities of many signaling pathways are dysregulated during the progression of neurodegenerative and muscle degeneration disorders, the precise sequence of cellular events leading to degeneration has not been fully elucidated. Two kinases of particular interest, the growth-promoting Tor kinase and the energy sensor AMPK, appear to show reciprocal changes in activity during degeneration, with increased Tor activity and decreased AMPK activity reported. These changes in activity have been predicted to cause degeneration by attenuating autophagy, leading to the accumulation of unfolded protein aggregates and dysfunctional mitochondria, the consequent increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ultimately oxidative damage. Here we propose that this increased ROS production not only causes oxidative damage but also ultimately induces an oxidative stress response that reactivates the redox-sensitive AMPK and activates the redox-sensitive stress kinase JNK. Activation of these kinases reactivates autophagy. Because at this late stage, cells have become filled with dysfunctional mitochondria and protein aggregates, which are autophagy targets, this autophagy reactivation induces degeneration. The mechanism proposed here emphasizes that the process of degeneration is dynamic, that dysregulated signaling pathways change over time and can transition from deleterious to beneficial and vice versa as degeneration progresses.
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Zhao F, Wang C, Zhu X. Isoform-specific roles of AMPK catalytic α subunits in Alzheimer's disease. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:3403-3405. [PMID: 32452835 DOI: 10.1172/jci137908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AMPK is a heterotrimeric complex that serves as a major sensor of energy status in eukaryotic cells. Accumulating evidence depicts a complex role of dysregulated AMPK signaling in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this issue of the JCI, Zimmermann et al. report on their investigation of AD-specific differential expression of AMPKα1 and AMPKα2 isoforms of the catalytic subunit and demonstrate that genetic reduction of AMPKα1, but not AMPKα2, rescued cognitive decline in AD mouse models. These findings reveal an isoform-specific role of AMPKα in the pathogenesis of AD, which likely provides a more precise target for future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanpeng Zhao
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Chunyu Wang
- Department of Neurology and.,Department of Medical Genetics, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiongwei Zhu
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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35
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Demaré S, Kothari A, Calcutt NA, Fernyhough P. Metformin as a potential therapeutic for neurological disease: mobilizing AMPK to repair the nervous system. Expert Rev Neurother 2020; 21:45-63. [PMID: 33161784 PMCID: PMC9482886 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2021.1847645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Metformin is currently first line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The mechanism of action of metformin involves activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to enhance mitochondrial function (for example, biogenesis, refurbishment and dynamics) and autophagy. Many neurodegenerative diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems arise from metabolic failure and toxic protein aggregation where activated AMPK could prove protective. Areas covered: The authors review literature on metformin treatment in Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease and other neurological diseases of the CNS along with neuroprotective effects of AMPK activation and suppression of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway on peripheral neuropathy and neuropathic pain. The authors compare the efficacy of metformin with the actions of resveratrol. Expert opinion: Metformin, through activation of AMPK and autophagy, can enhance neuronal bioenergetics, promote nerve repair and reduce toxic protein aggregates in neurological diseases. A long history of safe use in humans should encourage development of metformin and other AMPK activators in preclinical and clinical research. Future studies in animal models of neurological disease should strive to further dissect in a mechanistic manner the pathways downstream from metformin-dependent AMPK activation, and to further investigate mTOR dependent and independent signaling pathways driving neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Demaré
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Asha Kothari
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Nigel A Calcutt
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego , La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paul Fernyhough
- Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders, St Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre , Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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36
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Peralta S, Pinto M, Arguello T, Garcia S, Diaz F, Moraes CT. Metformin delays neurological symptom onset in a mouse model of neuronal complex I deficiency. JCI Insight 2020; 5:141183. [PMID: 33148885 PMCID: PMC7710273 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.141183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Complex I (also known as NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase) deficiency is the most frequent mitochondrial disorder present in childhood. NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase iron-sulfur protein 3 (NDUFS3) is a catalytic subunit of the mitochondrial complex I; NDUFS3 is conserved from bacteria and essential for complex I function. Mutations affecting complex I, including in the Ndufs3 gene, cause fatal neurodegenerative diseases, such as Leigh syndrome. No treatment is available for these conditions. We developed and performed a detailed molecular characterization of a neuron-specific Ndufs3 conditional KO mouse model. We showed that deletion of Ndufs3 in forebrain neurons reduced complex I activity, altered brain energy metabolism, and increased locomotor activity with impaired motor coordination, balance, and stereotyped behavior. Metabolomics analyses showed an increase of glycolysis intermediates, suggesting an adaptive response to the complex I defect. Administration of metformin to these mice delayed the onset of the neurological symptoms but not of neuronal loss. This improvement was likely related to enhancement of glucose uptake and utilization, which are known effects of metformin in the brain. Despite reports that metformin inhibits complex I activity, our findings did not show worsening a complex I defect nor increases in lactic acid, suggesting that metformin should be further evaluated for use in patients with mitochondrial encephalopathies. Metformin delays onset of mitochondrial encephalopathy in a CNS model of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation defect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos T Moraes
- Department of Neurology and.,Department of Cell Biology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
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37
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Svirskiene N, Pampuscenko K, Svirskis G, Borutaite V. Different effects of metformin and phenformin on hypoxia-induced Ca 2+ fluxes in cultured primary neurons. Brain Res 2020; 1750:147151. [PMID: 33039412 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2020.147151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that metformin and phenformin may exert beneficial effects against neuronal injury in the ischemic brain, however, the difference of action between these two drugs and the molecular mechanism of such protection is not clear. In this study, we investigated whether mild hypoxia-affected neurons exhibit changes in cytosolic calcium handling and whether metformin and phenformin exert any effect on calcium homeostasis in hypoxia-affected neurons. Cultured primary rat cortical cells were stained with calcium sensitive dye Oregon Green 488 BAPTA-1 AM and spontaneous calcium dependent changes of fluorescence were recorded. Using obtained fluorescence traces we estimated changes in relative amplitude of recorded spontaneous signals, changes in frequency of spontaneous activity, and changes in decay of fluorescence traces. We found that hypoxia caused reduction of the relative signal amplitude, increased the spontaneous activity, and slowed the decay of calcium concentration. After pre-treatment of cells with 0.1-0.5 mM metformin, the relative signal amplitude increased and the frequency of spontaneous signals decreased in hypoxia-affected neurons. However, pre-treatment with 1-25 µM phenformin neither increased the relative signal amplitude nor reduced the frequency of spontaneous signals. The decay of fluorescence traces became faster after application of metformin or phenformin comparing to neurons under hypoxic conditions. These results suggest different action of metformin and phenformin in improvement of Ca2+ homeostasis in hypoxia-affected neurons, which may have different effects on neuronal survival and functions after hypoxia/ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasa Svirskiene
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania.
| | - Katryna Pampuscenko
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Gytis Svirskis
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Vilmante Borutaite
- Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
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38
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Mitochondrial biogenesis in organismal senescence and neurodegeneration. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 191:111345. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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39
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Soo SK, Rudich PD, Traa A, Harris-Gauthier N, Shields HJ, Van Raamsdonk JM. Compounds that extend longevity are protective in neurodegenerative diseases and provide a novel treatment strategy for these devastating disorders. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 190:111297. [PMID: 32610099 PMCID: PMC7484136 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja K Soo
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Paige D Rudich
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Annika Traa
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Namasthée Harris-Gauthier
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Hazel J Shields
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Jeremy M Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program, and Brain Repair and Integrative Neuroscience Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada; Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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40
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Gómez-Escribano AP, Bono-Yagüe J, García-Gimeno MA, Sequedo MD, Hervás D, Fornés-Ferrer V, Torres-Sánchez SC, Millán JM, Sanz P, Vázquez-Manrique RP. Synergistic activation of AMPK prevents from polyglutamine-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105105. [PMID: 32739430 PMCID: PMC7755709 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Gómez-Escribano
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - J Bono-Yagüe
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - M A García-Gimeno
- Department of Biotechnology, Escuela Técnica Superior De Ingeniería Agronómica y Del Medio Natural (ETSIAMN), Universitat Politécnica De València, Valencia, Spain
| | - M D Sequedo
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - D Hervás
- Department of Biostatistics, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - V Fornés-Ferrer
- Tau Analytics, Parc Científic De La Universitat De València, Paterna, Spain
| | - S C Torres-Sánchez
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain
| | - J M Millán
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
| | - P Sanz
- Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Instituto De Biomedicina De València, CSIC, Valencia, Spain
| | - R P Vázquez-Manrique
- Laboratory of Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Instituto De Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Valencia, Spain; Centro De Investigación Biomédica En Red De Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain; Joint Unit for Rare Diseases IIS La Fe-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
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41
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Reactive Species in Huntington Disease: Are They Really the Radicals You Want to Catch? Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9070577. [PMID: 32630706 PMCID: PMC7401865 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9070577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative condition and one of the so-called rare or minority diseases, due to its low prevalence (affecting 1–10 of every 100,000 people in western countries). The causative gene, HTT, encodes huntingtin, a protein with a yet unknown function. Mutant huntingtin causes a range of phenotypes, including oxidative stress and the activation of microglia and astrocytes, which leads to chronic inflammation of the brain. Although substantial efforts have been made to find a cure for HD, there is currently no medical intervention able to stop or even delay progression of the disease. Among the many targets of therapeutic intervention, oxidative stress and inflammation have been extensively studied and some clinical trials have been promoted to target them. In the present work, we review the basic research on oxidative stress in HD and the strategies used to fight it. Many of the strategies to reduce the phenotypes associated with oxidative stress have produced positive results, yet no substantial functional recovery has been observed in animal models or patients with the disease. We discuss possible explanations for this and suggest potential ways to overcome it.
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42
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Ding H, Li Y, Li W, Tao H, Liu L, Zhang C, Kong T, Feng S, Li J, Wang X, Wu J. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate activates the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway to reduce lipid accumulation in canine hepatocytes. J Cell Physiol 2020; 236:405-416. [PMID: 32572960 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) plays a crucial role in hepatic lipid metabolism. However, the underlying regulatory mechanism of hepatic lipid metabolism by EGCG in canine is unclear. Primary canine hepatocytes were treated with EGCG (0.01, 0.1, or 1 μM) and BML-275 (an AMP-activated protein kinase [AMPK] inhibitor) to study the effects of EGCG on the gene and protein expressions associated with AMPK signaling pathway. Data showed that treatment with EGCG had greater activation of AMPK, as well as greater expression levels and transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α (PPARα) along with upregulated messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance and protein abundance of PPARα-target genes. EGCG decreased the expression levels and transcriptional activity of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) along with downregulated mRNA abundance and protein abundance of SREBP-1c target genes. Of particular interest, exogenous BML-275 could reduce or eliminate the effects of EGCG on lipid metabolism in canine hepatocytes. Furthermore, the content of triglyceride was significantly decreased in the EGCG-treated groups. These results suggest that EGCG might be a potential agent in preventing high-fat diet-induced lipid accumulation in small animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Ding
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Yu Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Huanqing Tao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Leihong Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Cai Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Tao Kong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Shibin Feng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinchun Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Xichun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
| | - Jinjie Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, China
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43
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Creus-Muncunill J, Badillos-Rodríguez R, Garcia-Forn M, Masana M, Garcia-Díaz Barriga G, Guisado-Corcoll A, Alberch J, Malagelada C, Delgado-García JM, Gruart A, Pérez-Navarro E. Increased translation as a novel pathogenic mechanism in Huntington's disease. Brain 2020; 142:3158-3175. [PMID: 31365052 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene. Striatal projection neurons are mainly affected, leading to motor symptoms, but molecular mechanisms involved in their vulnerability are not fully characterized. Here, we show that eIF4E binding protein (4E-BP), a protein that inhibits translation, is inactivated in Huntington's disease striatum by increased phosphorylation. Accordingly, we detected aberrant de novo protein synthesis. Proteomic characterization indicates that translation specifically affects sets of proteins as we observed upregulation of ribosomal and oxidative phosphorylation proteins and downregulation of proteins related to neuronal structure and function. Interestingly, treatment with the translation inhibitor 4EGI-1 prevented R6/1 mice motor deficits, although corticostriatal long-term depression was not markedly changed in behaving animals. At the molecular level, injection of 4EGI-1 normalized protein synthesis and ribosomal content in R6/1 mouse striatum. In conclusion, our results indicate that dysregulation of protein synthesis is involved in mutant huntingtin-induced striatal neuron dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Raquel Badillos-Rodríguez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Marta Garcia-Forn
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Mercè Masana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Gerardo Garcia-Díaz Barriga
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Anna Guisado-Corcoll
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Jordi Alberch
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
| | - Cristina Malagelada
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia
| | | | - Agnès Gruart
- Division of Neurosciences, Pablo de Olavide University, Seville, Spain
| | - Esther Pérez-Navarro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia.,Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Spain
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44
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Sportelli C, Urso D, Jenner P, Chaudhuri KR. Metformin as a Potential Neuroprotective Agent in Prodromal Parkinson's Disease-Viewpoint. Front Neurol 2020; 11:556. [PMID: 32595595 PMCID: PMC7304367 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, there are no clinically effective neuroprotective or disease-modifying treatments that can halt Parkinson's disease (PD) progression. The current clinical approach focuses on symptomatic management. This failure may relate to the complex neurobiology underpinning the development of PD and the absence of true translational animal models. In addition, clinical diagnosis of PD relies on presentation of motor symptoms which occur when the neuropathology is already established. These multiple factors could contribute to the unsuccessful development of neuroprotective treatments for PD. Prodromal symptoms develop years prior to formal diagnosis and may provide an excellent tool for early diagnosis and better trial design. Patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement behavior disorder (iRBD) have the highest risk of developing PD and could represent an excellent group to include in neuroprotective trials for PD. In addition, repurposing drugs with excellent safety profiles is an appealing strategy to accelerate drug discovery. The anti-diabetic drug metformin has been shown to target diverse cellular pathways implicated in PD progression. Multiple studies have, additionally, observed the benefits of metformin to counteract other age-related diseases. The purpose of this viewpoint is to discuss metformin's neuroprotective potential by outlining relevant mechanisms of action and the selection of iRBD patients for future clinical trials in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Sportelli
- National Parkinson Foundation International Centre of Excellence, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniele Urso
- National Parkinson Foundation International Centre of Excellence, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Jenner
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | - K Ray Chaudhuri
- National Parkinson Foundation International Centre of Excellence, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.,Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom
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45
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Tang BL. Could metformin be therapeutically useful in Huntington's disease? Rev Neurosci 2020; 31:297-317. [PMID: 31751298 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2019-0072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggest that dimethylbiguanide (metformin), a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes mellitus, could be neuroprotective in a range of brain pathologies, which include neurodegenerative diseases and brain injury. However, there are also contraindications that associate metformin treatment with cognitive impairment as well as adverse outcomes in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease animal models. Recently, a beneficial effect of metformin in animal models of Huntington's disease (HD) has been strengthened by multiple reports. In this brief review, the findings associated with the effects of metformin in attenuating neurodegenerative diseases are discussed, focusing on HD-associated pathology and the potential underlying mechanisms highlighted by these studies. The mechanism of action of metformin is complex, and its therapeutic efficacy is therefore expected to be dependent on the disease context. The key metabolic pathways that are effectively affected by metformin, such as AMP-activated protein kinase activation, may be altered in the later decades of the human lifespan. In this regard, metformin may nonetheless be therapeutically useful for neurological diseases with early pathological onsets, such as HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore 117596, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Medical Drive, Singapore 119077, Singapore
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46
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Metformin Promotes Axon Regeneration after Spinal Cord Injury through Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Stabilizing Microtubule. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:9741369. [PMID: 31998447 PMCID: PMC6969994 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9741369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating disease that may lead to lifelong disability. Thus, seeking for valid drugs that are beneficial to promoting axonal regrowth and elongation after SCI has gained wide attention. Metformin, a glucose-lowering agent, has been demonstrated to play roles in various central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the potential protective effect of metformin on nerve regeneration after SCI is still unclear. In this study, we found that the administration of metformin improved functional recovery after SCI through reducing neuronal cell apoptosis and repairing neurites by stabilizing microtubules via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway with LY294002 partly reversed the therapeutic effects of metformin on SCI in vitro and vivo. Furthermore, metformin treatment weakened the excessive activation of oxidative stress and improved the mitochondrial function by activating the nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2) transcription and binding to the antioxidant response element (ARE). Moreover, treatment with Nrf2 inhibitor ML385 partially abolished its antioxidant effect. We also found that the Nrf2 transcription was partially reduced by LY294002 in vitro. Taken together, these results revealed that the role of metformin in nerve regeneration after SCI was probably related to stabilization of microtubules and inhibition of the excessive activation of Akt-mediated Nrf2/ARE pathway-regulated oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Overall, our present study suggests that metformin administration may provide a potential therapy for SCI.
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47
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Emerging neuroprotective effect of metformin in Parkinson's disease: A molecular crosstalk. Pharmacol Res 2019; 152:104593. [PMID: 31843673 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2019.104593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and Lewy pathology. PD is a major concern of today's aging population and has emerged as a global health burden. Despite the rapid advances in PD research over the past decades, the gold standard therapy provides only symptomatic relief and fails to halt disease progression. Therefore, exploring novel disease-modifying therapeutic strategies is highly demanded. Metformin, which is currently used as a first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), has recently demonstrated to exert a neuroprotective role in several neurodegenerative disorders including PD, both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we explore the neuroprotective potential of metformin based on emerging evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies. Regarding the underlying molecular mechanisms, metformin has been shown to inhibit α-synuclein (SNCA) phosphorylation and aggregation, prevent mitochondrial dysfunction, attenuate oxidative stress, modulate autophagy mainly via AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation, as well as prevent neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Overall, the neuroprotective effects of metformin in PD pathogenesis present a novel promising therapeutic strategy that might overcome the limitations of current PD treatment.
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48
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Valionyte E, Yang Y, Roberts SL, Kelly J, Lu B, Luo S. Lowering Mutant Huntingtin Levels and Toxicity: Autophagy-Endolysosome Pathways in Huntington's Disease. J Mol Biol 2019; 432:2673-2691. [PMID: 31786267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a monogenetic neurodegenerative disease, which serves as a model of neurodegeneration with protein aggregation. Autophagy has been suggested to possess a great value to tackle protein aggregation toxicity and neurodegenerative diseases. Current studies suggest that autophagy-endolysosomal pathways are critical for HD pathology. Here we review recent advancement in the studies of autophagy and selective autophagy relating HD. Restoration of autophagy flux and enhancement of selective removal of mutant huntingtin/disease-causing protein would be effective approaches towards tackling HD as well as other similar neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Valionyte
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Yi Yang
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Sheridan L Roberts
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Jack Kelly
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Boxun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shouqing Luo
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK.
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49
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Meng H, Yan WY, Lei YH, Wan Z, Hou YY, Sun LK, Zhou JP. SIRT3 Regulation of Mitochondrial Quality Control in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2019; 11:313. [PMID: 31780922 PMCID: PMC6861177 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are disorders that are characterized by a progressive decline of motor and/or cognitive functions caused by the selective degeneration and loss of neurons within the central nervous system. The most common neurodegenerative diseases are Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD). Neurons have high energy demands, and dysregulation of mitochondrial quality and function is an important cause of neuronal degeneration. Mitochondrial quality control plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial integrity and ensuring normal mitochondrial function; thus, defects in mitochondrial quality control are also significant causes of neurodegenerative diseases. The mitochondrial deacetylase SIRT3 has been found to have a large effect on mitochondrial function. Recent studies have also shown that SIRT3 has a role in mitochondrial quality control, including in the refolding or degradation of misfolded/unfolded proteins, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis, all of which are affected in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Meng
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wan-Yu Yan
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yu-Hong Lei
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zheng Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ye-Ye Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lian-Kun Sun
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jue-Pu Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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50
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Neuroprotective Properties of Linagliptin: Focus on Biochemical Mechanisms in Cerebral Ischemia, Vascular Dysfunction and Certain Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20164052. [PMID: 31434198 PMCID: PMC6719127 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20164052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Linagliptin is a representative of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors which are registered and used effectively in a treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. They increase the levels of active forms of endogenous incretins such as GLP-1 and GIP by inhibiting their enzymatic decomposition. Scientific reports suggest beneficial effects of linagliptin administration via immunological and biochemical pathways involved in neuroprotective processes of CNS. Linagliptin’s administration leads to a decrease in the concentration of proinflammatory factors such as: TNF-α, IL-6 and increases the number of anti-inflammatory patrolling monocytes CX3CR1bright. Significant reduction in Aβ42 level has been associated with the use of linagliptin implying potential application in Alzheimer’s disease. Linagliptin improved vascular functions by increasing production of nitric oxide (NO) and limiting concentration of apolipoprotein B. Linagliptin-induced decrease in macrophages infiltration may provide improvement in atheromatous plaque stabilization. Premedication with linagliptin increases neuron’s survival after stroke and augments neuronal stem cells proliferation. It seems to be connected with SDF-1α/CXCR4 signaling pathway. Linagliptin prevented abnormal proliferation and migration of rat brain microvascular endothelial cells in a state of hypoperfusion via SIRT1/HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. The article presents a summary of the studies assessing neuroprotective properties of linagliptin with special emphasis on cerebral ischemia, vascular dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases.
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